Don’t Abandon Your Loved Ones With CRPS

Written by Jeff Schwartz for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? I do not have CRPS, but my wife battles it. She was diagnosed 2015, but had been battling it beforehand. We believe it resulted from an injury in 2003. What has daily life been like since your diagnosis? As her caregiver, it has been difficult. I have watched this vibrant woman who enjoyed doing things spend days in bed, trying to overcome tremendous pain. When there is a "good" day, we try to make the most of it. We have a saying that works for us: One day at a time.   What is one thing you wish those without CRPS/RSD could understand? This is…continue reading

Emily Baddorf’s CRPS Journey

Written by Emily Baddorf for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? I developed RSD at the age of 15 following a sprained ankle. The injury did not even hurt at the time and I continued the tennis lesson I was in the middle of. About 24 hours later, my ankle was swollen and was black/blue/purple. The pain was unbearable and I could not walk on it. What has daily life been like since your diagnosis? Life has had constant ups and downs since that day. I have had extremely low moments; being told I would never walk again, experiencing depression severe enough that it caused me to attempt suicide, numerous surgeries and being completely isolated from friends and family. The…continue reading

Don’t Give Up on Me

Written by Shannon Schildt-Leidig for the RSDSA blog. Anyone who knows me knows what a huge lover of music I am – and that any time I am in the car it is either on the Broadway or Classical channels; though, when it is football season I tend to listen to ESPN. However, there was a day when I was in the car and the programming on the channels I normally listen to did not fly so I turned to a local radio station and I heard this upbeat song and I liked it (major rarity!) – but I did not find the name of it – so after I got home I went to my friend Google and looked…continue reading

Never Give Up On Yourself

Written by Julie Manni for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? My journey with CRPS/RSD started in the fall of 2001 when I was 12 years old. I developed a gastric stomach ulcer and while I was on bed rest to heal the ulcer, I developed this severe aching crushing pain in both my legs. Six months later I was diagnosed with CRPS/RSD. The pain started in my legs but over the years spread to my entire body. What has daily life been like since your diagnosis? Daily life has been kind of a roller coaster over the past 18 years. I have had many debilitating years and many functional years. I have had times where…continue reading

Every Person Is Fighting a Battle We Know Nothing About

Written by Abigail Bourcy for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? My name is Abigail I developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome when I was 12 (10 years ago). I broke my fibula playing soccer and was put in a boot for six weeks. Doctors assumed it was a simple break, but after six weeks in a boot I was still refusing to put weight on it and complaining of tingling sensations. My mom and I went to every doctor we could find in the Northeast area; it took months to get a doctor to believe me. Finally, we visited an orthopedic physician assistant who within minutes of looking at my symptoms, knew it was CRPS. However,…continue reading

Elizabeth Kiss Speaks on Why CRPS Warriors Can’t Give Up

Written by Elizabeth Kiss for the RSDSA blog. My name is Liz. I live in Alaska and I am 50 years old. I was diagnosed with CRPS in late 2015 after I attended my brothers wedding in Minnesota.  I honestly do know what happened other than the next day I woke up and my right ankle and foot were swollen up like balloons and it was very painful. When we got home, I went to my doctor who sent me to an orthopedic foot surgeon who did x0rays and could find nothing wrong. I was then sent to a spine specialist who did x-rays on my lower spine and also an MRI. She then sent me to a pain doctor…continue reading

Kelly Clendenning on Why CRPS Warriors Need Allies

Written by Kelly Clendenning for the RSDSA blog. How and when did you develop CRPS/RSD? The how is hard to determine as my first mini stroke and seizure happened in 2007 when I was 20 years old. At the time, the pain started in my spine. 12 years later, it is now in my entire right side, face, chest, and left hand. At this juncture, we do not know what caused it, but it is possible the TIA (transient ischemic attack) and seizure triggered it. I was diagnosed in 2015 after seven years of trying to get a diagnosis and treatment and well over 50 various doctors. My daughter was seven months old. What has daily life been like since…continue reading

Jacque Neff’s New Battle

Written by Jacque Neff for the RSDSA blog. I joined the Army 25 years ago to follow in the footsteps of my family and work to become an officer. I thought I had an idea of what battles laid before me, but little did I know that I was at the beginning of a lifelong battle that would forever change my life. While running during a physical endurance test, I felt and heard something in my left knee pop. I stumbled and the Captain told me not to "fall out." I pushed on and finished in good time. A month later I was discharged with 10% disability and a diagnosis of tendonitis. The pain continued way past when it should…continue reading

Abby Sams on Why Little Things Can Make A Big Difference

Written by Abby Sams for the RSDSA blog. My name is Abby Sams and I was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS at age 19, over seven years after its official development. When I was 12, I injured my knees playing with friends and myself, my family, and my doctors all agreed it was likely a growing pain situation, or a simple “runners’ knee” that would clear itself up eventually. I ended up having to wear knee braces almost constantly for several years. My skin was purple, and my knees and thighs hurt to touch. I hated pants and always opted for our uniform skirts or shorts even during the winter. My daily life since diagnosis has changed tremendously. Now that I have…continue reading

Finding My Way to Joy Through a Life of Continual Pain

Originally written by Lori Joksch for 110 Magazine. We have republished with permission. A decade ago, I was an R.N. working in the Delivery Unit at Sutter Delta Hospital when I became the victim of a series of horrible events. It began when I tripped over some cables and landed hard on my hands and knees. I was surprised at the severe levels of pain that immediately began shooting through my elbows. The pain never subsided but, in spite of my torment, I stayed on the job for the next ten hours, helped finish the delivery, and remained for postpartum care. From the beginning, I realized something bad had happened but continued working for the next two weeks. Even though…continue reading