The pain of RSD is tough enough but many people find the problem increased by feelings of loneliness. Pain is like a wall around you so you feel that people outside that glass barrier can't understand how you feel. What you need to know is that many other people are inside the wall, sharing the same kinds of pain, fear and loneliness.

We have our own correspondence Team, who are happy to exchange emails and provide what help they can. Our Team are all volunteers and are not medically qualified, though most of them have painful, personal experience of RSD. You can get in touch with any of them individually via our Contact page.

You may find it helpful to join a Support Group, many of which you can reach via the Internet, without leaving your chair. You can also join in a 'chat group', depending what area you live in and what time suits you best. You'll find links to a number of Support Groups, websites and chatrooms on the RSD Alert "Help Groups" page. Some of them hold meetings and/or annual conferences. Some are email-exchange groups where everyone emails their questions and comments to the Group address and all participants see the messages and can respond (like a delayed action chatroom). Others have real-time chatrooms so you can share directly with people who understand just how you feel. In all these 'places' you meet real people who want to talk About the normal things of life, not just their latest operation! By talking with people who feel the same pressures as you, you will find it easier to bear the burden of RSD/CRPS.

In particular, we work closely with several groups in the "RSD UK Alliance" and recommend the sites of those groups who share with us in this informal community.
Derrick Phillips - Editor of RSD Alert