1. Best Magazine
2. RSD-UK Conference
3. Kiwi Challenge
4. Help us with Links
5. Tips
6. Wheelchair Tirade
7. Awareness
8. Your news
9. Drugs galore
   

1. Best Magazine
Congratulations to Sarah King for securing a feature on RSD in 'Best', a popular UK women's magazine. OK, they could have put things better (if only they had really listened to Sarah properly!). Nevertheless, they publicised RSD and generated a lot of interest. A follow up feature is expected.

2. RSD-UK Conference
Plans for this year's UK national conference are well developed. Two pain management doctors and a senior nurse will be among the presenters and we will also be hearing from RSD patients and support group leaders. More information to follow. If you haven't booked yet you can download a booking form from our website at http://www.rsdalert.co.uk/help-groups/Conference2002form.pdf . Don't miss this opportunity to meet with fellow patients and with experienced professionals and supporters. For information about the Conference go to http://www.rsdalert.co.uk/help-groups/Conference2002details.htm .

3. Kiwi Challenge
Wendy Everitt is on the RSD Alert Team and has personal experience of RSD. So much so that she needed more help to manage the constant pain. In March she spent two weeks at a Pain Management Course in New Zealand tourist haven, Rotorua and she has updated her personal story to report on what she learned. Read about her experiences and how she is challenging her pain at http://www.rsdalert.co.uk/stories/kiwi.htm

4. Help us with links
The Internet has done more to raise awareness of RSD than anything tried over the 150 years since the condition was first recognised. But we need to make best use of this medium. You can help us with this campaign and it won't cost you a thing. Some of the Search Engines pay special attention to the number of links to particular sites. The more links they find the more prominence they give the site and its subject. If you have a website, whatever its subject, please add a link to -
http://www.rsdalert.co.uk and/or http://www.rsdalert.org - and it will help spread awareness.

5. Tips
Sometimes a good idea fails because of the way it is executed and I admit that's what happened to our 'Tipsutold' section. Never mind; we learned and we started again. Since we changed the format this section has attracted a lot more attention and a few more good Tips. I especially recommend the latest one sent in by Sharon Roe, 'Tips for dealing with people on pain'. You can find that one at - http://www.rsdalert.co.uk/tipsutold/tips09.htm and you can find an index to our tips at http://www.rsdalert.co.uk/tipsutold/index.htm

6. Wheelchair Tirade
How do you feel about your wheelchair? If you are not forced to use one, how do you behave towards those who are? "Sunny" has to rely on a scooter had has very mixed feelings about it. Read her article 'Wheelchairs for EVERYONE" at http://www.rsdalert.co.uk./stories/wheelchairs.htm

7. Awareness
As an RSD patient, carer or healthcare professional you have knowledge that other people don't. By spreading awareness of RSD you will help future victims to get early diagnosis and the possibility of remission. Don't keep it to yourself. Tell people about this awful condition and point them to RSD Alert (or other websites) to learn what it's all about. Don't leave the campaigning to everyone else … get involved.

8. Your News
If you have a local Support Group or other RSD related activity tell us about it. Especially tell us if you have news we can publicise on the site. We aim to support and encourage all those who are working to raise awareness. Keep it up!

9. Drugs galore
Our drugs section ( http://www/rsdalert.co.uk/drugs/ ) now features 95 drugs which are prescribed for RSD patients. We appreciate your input to this valuable resource, but know that we are still missing a great deal of information. If you use a drug we are not featuring, or if you have experience to pass on about one of the featured drugs, please send us details.

Thanks for being involved. Be as pain-free as you can but, in any case, don't give up. You matter.

Best wishes

Derrick Phillips
(RSD Alert Editor)