Fifth Annual Color The World Orange for CRPS/RSD Awareness is Nov. 5

By The Color The World Orange Team Get your orange ready! The fifth-annual Color The World Orange for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Awareness is November 5. Buildings, bridges and landmarks around the world will be lit orange on Nov. 5 including Niagara Falls, the Helmsley Building in New York, the Wrigley Building in Chicago, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Blackpool Tower in England and many more! In addition, a number of US politicians have granted proclamations recognizing Color The World Orange and November as CRPS/RSD Awareness Month. The easiest way to get involved is to wear orange and post a picture to social media with the hashtag: #CRPSORANGEDAY. Make sure to ask friends, family, support groups and…
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Traversing the Minefields

By Linda Young Like a purveyor of fine wine or food, I am a purveyor of a neurological disorder that has impeded my body but not sacrificed my mind or soul for the past eight years. CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) or RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) as it is commonly referred to is worthy of the acronym “CRAPS!” One day you are waltzing through life easily and gracefully and all of a sudden you wake up one morning with a leg that is blue and mottled. No doctor is able to diagnose the problem as you rotate between all of them. First, there is the internist, the orthopedist, then the neurologist, the rheumatologist, and the pain specialist. Everything is ending…
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Our Groundbreaking Non-invasive Approach to CRPS

By: Dr. Katinka van der Merwe Author of “Putting Out the Fire: New Hope for RSD/CRPS”. She practices in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Find her clinic on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TheNeurologicReliefCenter/?tsid=0.4504157920998121&source=result Telephone: 1 (479) 304-8202 I set out on a journey eight years ago that made treating the nervous systems of those suffering from CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) not only a part of my life as a chiropractic physician, but my passion and my mission. My first CRPS patient was a man named Carlos, who suffered from full body CRPS. This case revealed to me how complicated but also rewarding treating patients who suffer from CRPS can be. I have kept in touch with Carlos through the years, and I’m delighted to say that…
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Tracey’s Story

By:  Tracey Morales Hi, my name is Tracey, I'm 48-years-old, married and have two daughters. I've had RSD for 21 years. My RSD story starts in Jan 1998. A toy V-Tech computer fell on my left foot, fracturing two toes and crushing the MT joints (toe knuckles). After two weeks, I knew something was wrong so I saw a podiatrist, who by the 2nd appointment diagnosed me with RSD. He sent me to a vascular surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis. I went through 6 blocks and a 6-day epidural over 6 weeks.  All worked, but wore off within 24 hours or less. But I found the RSD came back fighting, worse after each treatment. My leg was now on fire, but…
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Jennifer’s Legacy

James W. Broatch, RSDSA’s Executive Vice President, Director I want to introduce you to a special book which was recently published as a testimony to Jennifer Abramson’s brief but wonderful and impactful life. Jennifer lived only 31 years. However, her wisdom and can-do spirit live on in JEN’S Gift, a book which is filled with Jen’s poems, insights, and quotes that touched her soul. The posts were uploaded to her Instagram account lovingly titled Goal2Soul (Sending Out Unlimited Love).  Annie Abramson, Jen’s mother writes, this is Jen’s gift to us. Every page reflects the humor, wisdom and feelings we need to help us appreciate our own journey in life…May her gift inspire you and may you too be touched by…
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Minimizing Pain

By:  James W. Broatch. MSW. RSDSA Executive Vice President, Director Earlier this summer, RSDSA conducted a short survey of the RSDSA community asking individuals with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) what practices, medications, i.e. what is helping you to minimize your CRPS.  In other words, as John Lennon said, “what is getting you thru the night?”  As CRPS is the only medical condition with complex as its first word, a caution, whatever works for someone else may not be helpful to you. We received many, many replies.  I’m sending a warm thank you to all who participated. Today, I would like to share a few responses. Email me at info@rsds.org with minimizing pain in the subject line and I’ll send…
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Walking the fire. My journey to pain management living with CRPS

By Roy N Greenwood I was diagnosed with CRPS in my right leg in late 1996, before the internet had really become a thing and most research was still done at the local public library. A simple slip and fall while working on a cold and rainy night back in December of 1995 changed my life forever. I found out quickly that going through the Worker’s comp system by itself was going to be a total an abomination, but doing it while suffering through the first stages of CRPS when early intervention is critical, would be even more distressing. At first, the insurance refused to accept the diagnosis or even pay for any of the treatments or durable medical equipment.…
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24 Tips For People With CRPS

By Guest Blogger Jennifer Ginsburg Jennifer has been living with CRPS for 24 years. In her 24 years with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, she has learned a lot about herself and about the nature of CRPS. How can her experience help you? She created 24 tips to help you! As I just entered my 24th year with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, I’ve realized I lived with this disease for well over half of my life.   I’ve had the “benefit” of being a child with CRPS and just wanting to move on in life.  I’ve suffered the “disadvantages” too and had to end my career in my mid-thirties.   My CRPS gave me 8 glorious years of remission.  It’s also…
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When Treatment Offers Hope For Normalcy

By Guest Blogger Jamynne Bowles Jamynne discusses a potential co-morbid condition of CRPS- Dysautonomia. How does this impact her life? How did the treatment of CRPS impact this condition? What does she do to make the most of each good moment? Find out what happens when treatment provides hope for a better day, but makes some of your days more complicated.   Yesterday, I was feeling brave.  I was feeling invincible.  I was feeling like I “could.”  And so, I did.  I grabbed the car key, put it in the ignition, put it in “drive,” and went.  I just went.  I think I drove a good 20 miles.  Admittedly, it was tough at times to see the road through my…
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Experimenting With Treatments/Modalities

 By Guest Blogger Lorna Fortner This blog comes at the perfect time, as RSDSA has been asking the community for different treatments or things that they do to minimize their pain or reach remission. Lorna took the time to write about the various methods of treatments that she has tried and why the "opioid crisis" is a problem for those with chronic pain. Hi, y’all! I’ve been seeing some conversations regarding “What now?”  Okay.  Got a diagnosis, but what is the best way to treat it?  All of us individually made-we’re as differently as our fingerprints.  Some people may respond best to physical therapy, some to epidurals, sympathetic nerve blocks, some may do better with medications, or a combination of…
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