Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A whine. [View all]

Aarggh.

When I shattered my left leg (spiral segmental fractures to the tibia and fibula) I developed RSD in quick order. It will be 3 years come September.

This week I had the first x-rays of the leg in a year. I knew I had traumatic arthritis in the ankle. It's now "moderately severe". The increased blood flow in the affected limb has resulted in demineralization of the bones of my foot, leaving me with a condition akin to osteoporosis in the foot. And then there's the problem with the Intramadullary Rod that runs through the center of my tibia.

I've worked hard to get to where I am now, and stupid as it seems, it's only been over the past few months that I've come to accept that I'm not going to get back to pre-accident levels of use with the leg. I am permanently disabled. I've made a lot of changes. My diet is pretty restricted- no dairy. No red meat, I've finally reached the no coffee place after cutting back a little at a time. I haven't been eating wheat, etc. I don't mind it. It still allows for plenty of variation. I exercise for 45 minutes+ 5 days a week. I meditate 5+ days a week.

On April 8th I was feeling so good physically, that I chucked my oxycodone. For about 10 days it was workable. And then the pain started spiraling. By the time I saw my doc on April 23, I was experiencing enough pain that I had my 'scrip refilled. But the problem with pain is once it starts spiraling, it's hard to calm it, so here I am with another "can't sleep because of the pain" night.

And I may have to have more surgery. Good thing I've been working on building upper body strength.