Through It All I Persevere

Written by Kelly Considine for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS? Imagine being turned away from doctors when they learn of your CRPS diagnosis. Imagine being told you would be better off having cancer. Imagine not one, but several doctors recommending an amputation when they do not fully understand the underlying issue. These are just a few of the things I have faced after being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). On September 5, 2005, the first week of my senior year in high school, my life changed forever after spraining my ankle playing volleyball. I had sprained my ankle and suffered various sports injuries growing up, so I was very upset when I quickly…continue reading

We Are In This Together!

Written by Shannon McMullen for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? I developed CRPS in spring 2018, following multiple ankle sprains that never fully healed. I was cleared to run again by my doctor, but that led to aggressive tendonitis that would not go away. Eventually, I was in a boot and on crutches for some time to try to give my ankle a rest, and after that the CRPS came on. It was very hard to get a diagnosis as the physical therapy place I was going to did not understand why being in the pool was painful (told me to do it anyway) and they did not understand why touching my foot was so…continue reading

I Wish I Could Do The Things I Used To Do

Written by Kellie Slater for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? My original injury happened in August of 2012. Even though I saw providers on a regular basis and continued to have excruciating pain, and some of these providers thought it could be CRPS, I was not formally diagnosed until later. I underwent physical therapy, which only exacerbated my pain. I had ice applied and instruments that applied a high amount of pressure to my nerves and all the while, the therapists could not understand why my pain did not abate. In fact, they were visibly annoyed that I was not getting better. This added insult to injury. I feel like this lack of knowledge and…continue reading

Let’s Help Others Understand CRPS

Written by Shanna Parlock for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? On April 27, 2007 I went for the first horseback ride of the year, and since my daughter was born. After it, my life would never be the same. During the ride, my horse was spooked and threw me off. I shattered my L3 vertebrae. My back started to heal correctly, but then for some reason it would not finish healing. In February 2008, I had a 12-hour surgery to replace my L3 vertebrae with titanium mesh and fuse my L2 to L4 with rods and screws. Afterward I kept telling my doctor I felt two types of pain. I felt an aching pain in…continue reading

Do Not Ignore CRPS

Written by Michelle Kellogg for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? I was officially diagnosed October 20, 2016, but we believe I originally developed it in January 2015 after surgery. It was my second surgery on that limb, a simple surgery just to remove hardware that we believed I was allergic to. During that surgery, my surgeon noticed I had a nerve that was completely covered in scar tissue. He attempted to debride the nerve. Later, after removal of all bandages, I noticed the area where the debrided nerve was had become incredibly sensitive… as in, sick to my stomach if you just look at it kind of sensitive. He attributed it to the debriding and…continue reading

You Will Be Stronger in the End!

Written by Rachel W. for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? In September 2018, I was at tumbling practice and I sprained my ankle. My physical therapist noticed some signs of CRPS during my first few sessions, and at my one month follow up appointment with my orthopedic doctor, I was officially diagnosed with CRPS. I realize how lucky I am to have been diagnosed so quickly!   What has daily life been like since your diagnosis? It has been a struggle – a constant battle of whether or not I am going to wake up being able to get out of bed in the morning.  It started in my ankle and has spread to other…continue reading

You Are Strong. You Made It This Far.

Written by Barbara Graham for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? I was diagnosed with RSD in April 2004. The injury occurred in July 2003. I worked in the security department of one of Rockford, Illinois' leading hospitals. My partner and I received a call to the psychiatric floor. They were trying to admit a 17-year-old, who did not want to be there and was on drugs. After we struggled with the patient in the hallway and returned him to his room, the nurses came in to give him a shot to clam him down. But after seeing the needle, he started throwing punches again. He knocked my partner back and to the floor. I grabbed…continue reading

Do Whatever It Takes to Find a Cure

Written by Melissa Uchic for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? My initial injury is more of an educated guess between myself and my doctors. I can trace symptoms back to an epidural during childbirth in 2005. What has daily life been like since your diagnosis? My life has been ever-changing since 2005. It started with just back pain, but as an athlete, I was used to back pain and tried to charge through it. But over the years, and more significantly so in the past two years, my quality of life has been declining. My CRPS has spread to my whole body. I have not been able to use my thumbs for over a year,…continue reading

The Sun Will Rise Again

Written by Juanita Franke for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? I developed CRPS in October of 2018. While working as a faculty member at Pacific Northwest Ballet and teaching Pilates, I sustained a minor injury to my left knee. I knelt down, heard a ”pop, ” and spent the afternoon icing my knee. By the next day, I could only walk with crutches. Within two days, I started experiencing the swelling, discoloration, and skin temperature differences that I now know to be symptoms of CRPS. Unfortunately, it took three and a half months for a diagnosis. While I know my diagnosis was relatively quick compared to the averages, it was nonetheless frustrating to endure six weeks…continue reading

We Are All in This Together

Written by Devery Mills for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? What has life been like since your diagnosis? I have been a nurse for many years and worked in the ER and Cardiac. In 2007, I was seen in the ER with a nasty stomach bug.  Traditional medications were not working so I was given a different nausea drug two times. It was not given correctly according to pharmaceutical instructions and it caused significant damage to my right arm. I suffered thrombophlebitis and infection. I was in the hospital for a week on IV antibiotics and consequently the beginning of my journey with RSD. My husband and I lived on a 43 ft boat for…continue reading