Hi! My name is Viclyanne, I was diagnosed with RSD when I was just 10 years old. My RSD didn’t start because I had an injury, it started one day after school with just an ankle pain. I started going to the emergency rooms a lot since the pain never went away, it only got worse. They never found anything wrong with my foot. It was getting more swollen, more bruising, more sensitive. I couldn’t even walk. Few weeks later, it went to both of my legs. It kept going everywhere in my body. Until one day, I went to this doctor & she diagnosed me with RSD. My parents & I didnt have no idea that this condition was going to be forever. That I had to live with this pain for the rest of my life, with no cure.
Now, I’m stronger than ever. This pain hasn’t gotten any better, it has gotten worse. But I just keep going. I’m a warrior fighting this battle each day. God has sent me two amazing people to my life. I’m married to my amazing husband & we have one handsome son. They bring joy to my life. They help me each day to never give up.
I have been lucky to have such great support at home thanks to my mom and 2 younger sisters and I wish that the doctors could be more helpful. I have learned that water helps a lot. I have not been able to do as much physical activity as I would like and have since started going to the YMCA and doing a whole lot of swimming and exercises in the pool there.
One of the best things I learned while doing physical therapy is to desensitize the affected area. It may not get better, but it will help to make sure that your brain knows not to shut off the area completely, I use Kinetic Tape and the spray adhesive often to help desensitize my limbs, especially if I know that I am going to have a particularly long day or if bad weather is coming in.
What are you doing to get through the days that are particularly difficult?