Living with RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy)

Topic tonight will be "Medical Leeching". Guest: Rhonda Crawford Starting with my adventure in Walking with RSD, just a side step in my life's path, filled with potholes! RSD started with an injury in Nov 2006 when I reached for a piece of paper on the floor. I turned wrong and pulled a ligament in my foot. It felt as if I ruptured everything in my foot which started the horror of endless pain. I attempted to continue working but every step, movement anything I did was extremely painful. My doctor convinced me that it would be best to go home and elevate, rest and allow time for my foot to heal. I was diagnosed with RSD by my podiatrist, Dr James J. Dukelow, DPM in Jan 2007. I eventually did return to work in March with a lot of restrictions, no standing, no lifting, no walking, keeping my foot elevated. Work made accommodations and I still needed to pay bills so I was willing to try. It wasn't easy! I have followed the recommended treatments for RSD. Have had a pain management doctor give up on me, an orthopedic tell me he wouldn't touch me concerned that he would become part of another doctors surgical mistake; but I had never had surgery! I have had the best pain management doctor in my area who's recommendation left me with little direction, upon our meeting he wanted to immediately place an SCS, a spinal cord stimulator. I wasn't ready for that major commitment and needed to find another possible choice in treatment since I felt as if I had no choices. I started searching the internet for any option. I found an article in Podiatry Today written by Dr Nicholas A. Grumbine, titled "Reviving An Ancient Therapy to Manage Chronic Pain" http://www.podiatrytoday.com/article/2229 I presented the article to my doctor asking if he would consider this therapy without hesitation he stated "If it would ease your pain I would". This was the start of my journey through alternative therapies as my doctor and I followed a new protocol in managing RSD.