Very sad and worried

I have had chronic pain in heels 2' to bone spurs and then I had surgery on right foot, and the pain in that foot got 100x worse. I am a nurse in an intensive care unit, and my long term goal is to be a nurse anesthesist.

I went to a pain clinic today and the doc told me he thinks I have RSD(reflex sympathetic dystrophy), and that I might have to think about _quitting_ nursing!

The information I am finding on the web quite frankly is scaring the hell out of me--chronic and debilitating.

Does anyone out there have RSD or have a close relative that can relay any info to me? I know this forum is frequented by many informed folk. It would be very appreciated.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

Answers

Karen,

My sister was just diagnosed with RSD. I wish I could say it's curable. It's not. It depends on each person, but some people become completely crippled. There's memory loss and chronic nerve pain. Nerve surgery may help, may not. Even chocolate makes things worse.

Here's an address for you. http://rsdhope.org/

And here's my sister's email: Msgeorgi@mediaone.net

I hope that's not your diagnosis. If it is, get in touch with Georgia. Tell her I sent you.

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000

I've just spent enormous amounts of time studying it - please feel free to email me privately and i'll give you some info.

And yes, it's not good. My client had "the worst case ever seen" by her rheumatologist - so I know how bad it can get, what I don't know is whether it's liveable with.

Still, there are things you can do. cheers anna

-- Anonymous, August 04, 2000