Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Yes, she is at it again. And as an RSD patient, I WANT to believe her. There are reasons I don't believe her, and reasons I do. Some of what she says could come from a textbook. The RSD info was pretty textbook.
The Dr.Oz info was confusing. He never mentioned meds in his explanation except to ask if she had taken them. Yes, she said, she took meds after all the surgeries. Huh? As an RSD patient, how many surgeries do we need? Does she know something we don't?
Then she says she went online to meet others with RSD and what did they do, etc. So changing her eating made the RSD go away? Or is it gone? At one point she spoke in the present tense.
Look, if we finally have someone willing to stand up and say she has this, does it have to be someone known to be pretty messed up? I am NOT attacking her. She has her problems and IF she has RSD, I feel for her. Hell, whatever she has, I feel for her! But if it isn't RSD, don't go around saying this is what RSD looks like, b/c I never acted the way she did.
Okay, so I would've chosen someone w/o any past problems to be our spokesperson. But we now have Paula. And she says we need to eat differently to get rid of our RSD.
SIGH....I don't know what to say. The RSD was really only talked about in the 1st segment, the rest was about her age defying secret. My other fear is that people are going to want to copy Abdul and "get" RSD. There are people who look for ways to get attention. There's even a medical diagnosis for people who hurt themselves to get medical and other attention.
I'm kind of thrown by this- I think the RSD segment should've been longer and the age part much smaller. Which is more important?
To add insult to injury, this was previously aired! Did anyone see it? The only part of the entire show that interested me was Dr. Oz's explanation of the nerves and RSD.
I just never know what to think when Paula talks RSD. I KNOW we all experience it differently. But some things she said made me shake my head. For instance, she talked about using ice, that ice was her friend. And I DO know there IS someone here with RSD who also uses ice and it works for that person. But all I can think of is the 3 docs I've had over 15 plus years. Each of them saying ice is just about the worst thing we can do for RSD. I believe that different things work for different people. So maybe Paula has it and she uses ice and eating right to cure her RSD.
I apologize- my mind is just blown. I can't believe she wasted all that time and didn't talk about how medication is necessary! She skirted the issue. And anyone who saw her show "Hey Paula" KNOWS she was sure on something! She admits to meds after surgeries but why not explain that RSD has no cure (certainly not just changing your diet!) Explain that RSD means needing pain meds every day! And that there is NOTHING to be ashamed of!
I'm laying here with a bad cold/flu and watching this and my mouth dropped. Anyone else see it?
The Dr.Oz info was confusing. He never mentioned meds in his explanation except to ask if she had taken them. Yes, she said, she took meds after all the surgeries. Huh? As an RSD patient, how many surgeries do we need? Does she know something we don't?
Then she says she went online to meet others with RSD and what did they do, etc. So changing her eating made the RSD go away? Or is it gone? At one point she spoke in the present tense.
Look, if we finally have someone willing to stand up and say she has this, does it have to be someone known to be pretty messed up? I am NOT attacking her. She has her problems and IF she has RSD, I feel for her. Hell, whatever she has, I feel for her! But if it isn't RSD, don't go around saying this is what RSD looks like, b/c I never acted the way she did.
Okay, so I would've chosen someone w/o any past problems to be our spokesperson. But we now have Paula. And she says we need to eat differently to get rid of our RSD.
SIGH....I don't know what to say. The RSD was really only talked about in the 1st segment, the rest was about her age defying secret. My other fear is that people are going to want to copy Abdul and "get" RSD. There are people who look for ways to get attention. There's even a medical diagnosis for people who hurt themselves to get medical and other attention.
I'm kind of thrown by this- I think the RSD segment should've been longer and the age part much smaller. Which is more important?
To add insult to injury, this was previously aired! Did anyone see it? The only part of the entire show that interested me was Dr. Oz's explanation of the nerves and RSD.
I just never know what to think when Paula talks RSD. I KNOW we all experience it differently. But some things she said made me shake my head. For instance, she talked about using ice, that ice was her friend. And I DO know there IS someone here with RSD who also uses ice and it works for that person. But all I can think of is the 3 docs I've had over 15 plus years. Each of them saying ice is just about the worst thing we can do for RSD. I believe that different things work for different people. So maybe Paula has it and she uses ice and eating right to cure her RSD.
I apologize- my mind is just blown. I can't believe she wasted all that time and didn't talk about how medication is necessary! She skirted the issue. And anyone who saw her show "Hey Paula" KNOWS she was sure on something! She admits to meds after surgeries but why not explain that RSD has no cure (certainly not just changing your diet!) Explain that RSD means needing pain meds every day! And that there is NOTHING to be ashamed of!
I'm laying here with a bad cold/flu and watching this and my mouth dropped. Anyone else see it?
The other thing that made me a bit angry but I left out of the OP, was that Dr. Oz was the one who came out in one of his early shows talking about how pain is under-treated in America, how women are less likely to be treated with pain meds and how docs don't WANT to treat pain b/c they're afraid. Dr. Oz was talking about how it embarrassed him, etc. So WHY didn't he bring up the fact that most RSD patients need pain meds? Did he decide to leave it out? Anyone doing RSD research HAD to know that we need meds. I'm sorry, but even if I ate perfectly, my RSD would NOT go away.
Also, note that she suggested it was gone but also said things like if she felt -what was the word? Ugh! It was something like if she felt something flaring up she would go to a certain food group, etc. So she still has it? I can't believe they brought so much attention to the RSD at the start and THEN it was all about beauty and fighting age. WTH does one have to do with the other?
Before I wrote the original post I was exhausted and falling asleep as I watched tv and the show came on. I perked up at the mention of RSD but was po'd that Oz was more excited about having a celeb on than he was REALLY talking about RSD. I guess the truth isn't sexy enough for TV.
And while I MIGHT have been a little loopy in my 1st weeks of being titrated well over 15 years ago, I've NEVER looked anything like she did on her reality show, slurring her words and stumbling around. Do I believe lack of sleep adds to that? Yes. But I also think she was either abusing meds or her doctors weren't keeping track of what they gave to her. Even on the show yesterday I felt she was "off".
I don't hate Paula, in fact, I feel sorry for her. She has money and fame, but possibly, RSD. And RSD SUCKS! IF she has it, I hope she gets a better doc and starts to speak the TRUTH about it. I don't want to hear her telling people on tv and in magazines that she "overcame" RSD with diet!" I can just hear my hubby say, "Well Paula Abdul got rid of RSD, why can't YOU?"
So Paula, either do your own research and tell the TRUTH or just back away. You're NOT a good spokesperson for RSD. Not at this point. And stop wearing those damned shoes! High heels aren't good for you whether you have RSD or not. WTH was she thinking?
"Hmm, I'm going on Dr Oz to talk about my chronic pain disease and why I was so loopy. Maybe I should wear high heels so I look better doing it." HUH? Get a clue. I'm sorry she has problems, but I often wonder if she kept complaining about pain and they suggested she MIGHT have RSD and that's where this began. And she was of course, thrilled to have a name to go with her pain, or, sadly, a reason to take pain pills.
I hate doubting her b/c I wouldn't want anyone doubting me. I just don't feel right about the things she says. For one thing, I think we each have our own way of describing RSD. I've always said it is a burning cold or a freezing fire. It contradicts itself. The pain is unbearable, so how did she have it through Idol and all those other shows? How did she dance? I have a difficult time trying not to limp!
It's just that her description was so...textbook. If you look up RSD there will be a list of symptoms. And most of us have some or all of the symptoms. But she listed them as if she'd memorized it.. I think RSD is different with different people. For instance, I have RSD in my foot/leg. My foot gets cold and sweaty and sometimes turns bluish or greyish. My toenails grow faster on that foot than the right one. I get TERRIBLE muscle spasms in my calf. And, of course, the burning/cold pain.
I think most of us get the pain with differing additional symptoms. Maybe I'm being picky. I don't WANT to doubt a possible fellow CP patient. I don't WANT to be like so many of those docs out there who don't believe in RSD or don't believe in treating it. But I just felt creeped out listening to her.
Oy! I just don't know. Maybe it's not my business. But why is it bothering me so much? I don't know. I guess God Bless, go in peace. I pray you don't have it b/c it is horrific. And Paula, you don't do well on substances. Be careful. Meanwhile, maybe Dr. Oz could devote his entire show to CP? have real CP patients on? Is that too much to ask? Probably.
Thalia, you're so right about heels. I have a box right now on my bed with a pair of shoes I ordered from Zappo's. They had a very slight heel and I couldn't wear them for even a minute. My husband said that the one good thing about RSD is that it cut down my shoe buying tremendously. I recently bought a pair of sandals that are so comfortable, I bought them in brown and black. They look a lot better than my clunky sneakers, especially in a dress. Not that I wear a dress very often.LOL!
Back to the topic at hand. I so wish a reasonably intelligent and likeable celebrity would get RSD- not that I'm wishing it on anybody, but at least we'd have a voice out there.
Sandy
Now there is a laugh!!! a reasonably intelligent celeb...... LOL
I think all the ones who are likeable are too busy actually doing good with their celeb to be busy making up stories for why they were stoned on a TV interview. I noticed she did not talk about WHY RSD would make her so drunk!!!!