My name is Jama and I am new to all of this; RSD, chat rooms, support groups...everything. This is my story. I am a 29, I am a RN. I was injured at work. They said I had simply sprained my wrist. As an new ER nurse I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect in my minor sprain. The facility where I worked was very cautious about sending me (or any other injured worker) back to work "too soon". I thought heck it is just a sprain? (I never went back!) But over the next couple months my symptoms (pain, throbbing, swelling, lack of strength and movement increased sensitivity to everything) not only did not resolve but got worse. I was sent for tests and tests and tests, which being a nurse made me uneasy. I was given drugs and drugs and drugs. Which being a nurse, most would think I would be all for, but I am not a fan of taking drugs. My pain got worse and worse. It was no longer just in my wrist and hand, it was now all the way up my arm, into my shoulder, up my neck, at the base of my head and half of my head and face. I even thought I was having stroke because the sensation to my face felt like I had facial droop. I was a shell of the person I was. I once loved going out and being active and found I would not leave the house for days. Wouldn't shower, simply lay in bed....not that I ever fell asleep! I went for months of being in horrible pain or just drugged and drooling on myself; I hated life and felt stupid because as a nurse I couldn't stand up for myself, yet always took pride of being a patients advocate, doing what was right for someone who couldn't make choices for themselves. After complaining to my doctor that I was no longer going to take a "we don't know" answer and that I did not want to take another drug cause frankly I am going f*%# crazy and havent slept in months. He walked out of the room and came back with script for sleeping pills.Huh! I thought if could just get a nights sleep, maybe just maybe I could think straight and start to stand up for myself. I took the sleeping pill and woke up 16 hours later not knowing where the heck I was or even the day? I hate meds! I started to looking into any other type of therapy, heck if someone told me to see a witch doctor I looked into it. I would do or consider doing just about anything. That was when the doctor finally said RSD. I researched high and low for anything. I started different types of traditional chinese medicine. I would no longer take a drugs! After some treatments I began to feel a little beter, I no longer wanted or begged my husband to cut off my arm, literally! I had been drug free for a couple of months and focused on holistic medicine and was doing somewhat better?! I think that was about the time my husband saw a fraction of the person he married. I wasn't totally there but he could see that I wasn't raging in pain nor was I drugged and drooling on myself. He took action. That's how I explain how I got PREGNANT! I was ok for the first few months with less pain. Many people said maybe this is a blessing in multiple ways. You get to have a baby and your body changes when you are pregnant maybe it is healing itself! Yeh, right like RSD is that loving. I am now in my third trimester and my symptoms are raging on with just as much fierce power as before. Now, I would like to take drugs but can't cause I am now making a baby. I fear my RSD pain in labor more than I do the labor pains! So if any of you have ever been as psychotic as I, to get pregnant while dealing with RSD, I would love to hear how things went for you.

I know I am being a little long winded, I appologize. Along with all of this I am dealing with other issues of not being able to return to my nursing role I so loved to do. I feel cheated, I worked so hard to get to that point and worked hard while I was there; how did I get here? I am also dealing with workmans comp junk it sounds like many of you have dealt with also. So any words of wisdom would help. I am looking into a lawyer in the LA county/ Orange county area if anyone could refer. Perferably with workmans comp and RSD experience.

On a positive note. I have a great husband that supports me in every way he can. He doesn't complain when I wake him in the middle of the night to give up his pillow to prop me in some other position or to put the TENS patches in a place I can't reach or to take the battery out of the smoke detector cause I need it for the unit or simply cause I can't stop crying from this hell. He will come home to a house that is disarry with no hot dinner and sometime not even clean clothes. And he never complains, he throws in the laundry and doesn't question why I laid in bed all day. He is the best husband. I also have friends and family that understand that I no longer want to do things I once did or simply to leave me alone when I need it. They also don't let me sit at home for days on end anymore. They are now recognizing "safe" distractions for me. Thank goodness for them. I also have the best dog in the world. During the day while I am alone in pain he stays by my side. If I cry he will snuggle close as if he knows my pain. (Maybe I am crazy!) Sorry for spilling my guts but I am happy to have found this site. I have read other stories and am shocked at how much they sound like mine. I am happy in some wierd way that it isn't JUST me, not to wish others pain. I wish it would go away for all of us. Peace to all!

-Jama