I was only fifteen when I was diagnosed with RSD. Up until this point in life, I had lived a fairly normal childhood.  I had experienced the normal cuts, scrapes, and bruises.  I had even had the typical childhood common colds and viruses.  I had been diagnosed migraine headaches in first grade, but nothing life changing.

Now 15 years old, I had lived life with constant severe burning pain for several months, but no explanation for why I was experiencing so much pain.  I had seen several doctors, but none of them really knew what was going on.

It was only a couple of months until my 16th birthday.  All my classmates were excited about getting their driver’s permits, but I couldn’t stand the pain I experienced when I put weight through my right leg and foot.  My right leg and foot were swollen, cold to the touch, and a  nice shade of purple.  My leg and foot were so sensitive to touch that a gentle breeze felt like a flaming fire against them.

After being passed from doctor to doctor for several months, I ended up at a pain treatment center, exactly one month before my 16th birthday.  This is when I finally received an explanation.  Almost 16 years old, I was told I had a chronic pain disease known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).  I was told their wasn’t a cure, but that we would do what we could to treat the symptoms.

Being 15, I really didn’t know what to think, what to say, or what to do.  While I had a diagnosis, those words “Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy” meant nothing to me.  I left the doctor’s office that day with mixed feelings.  It was a relief to know that there was a name for what was wrong with me.  It was a relief knowing that someone believed my pain.  However, my future was uncertain.  Would I ever get off crutches?  Would the pain ever go away?  Would I ever play volleyball, hike through the woods, or line dance again?

Little did I know that this was just the beginning of a long journey.

I suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), a chronic pain disease.  The disease has taken over my entire right leg and seems to be trying to move into my right arm.  My doctors still aren’t in agreement on the right arm, so it could be something else.  Anyway, I’ve been totally confined to crutches since August 2000.  Having now used crutches for eleven years, I have to admit that life hasn’t been a piece of cake.  There have been times that I’ve been so deep in the pits of depression that I couldn’t see a way out.  However, if I could change things, I can honestly say I wouldn’t.  Due to my fight with RSD, I’ve come into contact with people I would never have met otherwise.  I also feel my struggle with RSD has made me a stronger, better person.  I’ve learned not to take things for granted.  What I have today may be gone tomorrow.  What I’m able to do today, I may not be able to do tomorrow.  However, I also know that no matter what happens I have God here with me.  He will give me the strength to face whatever lies ahead of me and will be right by my side no matter what.

With all of this in mind, I’m hoping to start blogging regularly about my life with RSD.  I hope to start with the beginning of the battle and work my way to the present.  Then, I can share my daily struggles, what I learn, etc. as I continue to live with RSD.

I’m hoping my blog about my life with RSD can inspire someone else with RSD to have faith and fight RSD, in the same way I was inspired by Bethany and her amazing story.

For those of you reading my blog for EDTC 683, I’ve enjoyed taking this class with you.  I’ve found your blog and discussion board entries very interesting.  Until this semester, I didn’t realize there was so much to creativity.

Now that I’m finishing my master’s degree, I hope that I will continue to use this blog.  I’m still unable to work due to my RSD.  When I first created this blog, several semesters ago, I thought I might use it to either share images of my hobbies (knitting and painting) with my family and friends or to share my RSD experiences with others.  Now that I know I won’t be needing to blog for class, maybe I’ll do one of those two things.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year.

I promised a few of my fellow EDTC 683 classmates to post some pictures of my painted rocks on my blog.  Painting is one of those creative outlets that I use to pass time and take my attention away from the pain of Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. 

Below is a photo of a rock with a red bird painted on it and a rock with a lighthouse painted on it.  Sorry that the lighthouse rock isn’t a straight-on clear photo.  I no longer have the rock in my possession.  I cropped the image out of a picture I took of it when the two-year old my mom babysits and I placed the rock on the grave of the toddlers grandmother/my aunt.

Rock with bird painted on it.

Rock with lighthouse painted on it.

The next two rocks have a barn painted on them.  I painted these rocks as my creative product project for EDTC 683.  I didn’t just paint a random barn on a random rock.  The rocks are from the creek on my grandparents farm and the barn is my grandparents barn. 

Rock with barn painted on it