For me as a Pain Warrior, my ultimate goal is to create awareness in and around my local community and across all of the local social media platforms I am associated with to help educate my immediate friends and family more about the disease that both my husband and I are survivors of now for a combined 29+ years ... he is a survivor of RSD now for more than 19+ years having occasional flare-ups and I have been a survivor now for over 10+ years having been diagnosed a little over 8 years after he was injured in the United States Marine Corps.
I hope our participation in the RSDSA Virtual Walk will not only bring together other Pain Warriors in the fight against RSD who also are RSD Survivors but also those who are willing to join forces with us such as family and friends to help raise awareness and raise funds to continue research towards a cure as well as funds to continue helping to provide information, education, and materials for individuals looking for more details about RSD/CRPS.
CRPS is the highest known pain on the McGill Pain Index . There is no known cure ... yet!!
SYMPTOMS OF RSD/CRPS .... extreme burning; numbness; tingling; deep bone pain; swelling; crushing, as well as extreme sensitivity to things not normally painful such as a light breeze, touch, or vibrations; extreme pain by something only a little painful; color changes in the skin; temperature changes in the skin; weakness or atrophy in the affected limb; changes in hair or nail growth; sweating changes/asymmetry; cramping in hands / feet of affected limb; changes in skin appearance "PLEASE DON'T TOUCH ME" is often the words expressed by an individual who is affected by RSD/CRPS.
Help us Pain Warriors win the fight against RSD/CRPS .... we are in this together.
Living with RSD for more than 11 years is at most ... many days exhausting. For many people who are not aware living with chronic illness many days leaves one rendered incapacitated and unable to at times respond immediately to a message, answer the phone when you call, or maybe meet for lunch or dinner on a specific day, always return a smile when you glance a look my way even though I try at every opportunity.
There are many instances when my internal being is at turmoil, trying to overcome the uttermost excruciating wrenching pain I am currently going through that only someone who lives with a chronic condition would understand. Its pain that NEVER goes away. Yes I live with chronic pain but not only chronic pain but also other chronic health conditions. Chronic migraines which causes chronic pain in itself plus chronic pain caused by RSD/CRPS … as well as lymphedema, restless leg syndrome, degenerative disc disease in the lumbar as well as thoracic region including arthritis in both of those regions as well which causes horrific numbing back pain down the center of my back for many, many years now.
Needless to say, between my husbands RSD and my own, if it were not for RSDSA I would have the information, materials, and knowledge I have about Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy as I do so anything I can do to assist the organizations in raising funds and maintaining while also being there to support chronic pain patients and patients living with RSD … then I will be here for each and every one of you. I will lend an ear for each of you first and foremost. If you need assistance in locating a physician, I will help. Just call upon me. I do wish each and every one of you all the best, remain healthy, and stay safe amidst this pandemic and crisis we are in.