RSD Alert is approaching seven years old; that's a long time in Internet terms and things have changed greatly over that period. When we started it was hard for patients to find useful information about RSD and even harder for them to contact anyone else who had the condition. Frustration and loneliness made many people desperate, and we often heard from people who felt almost suicidal. That doesn't often happen now, so people must be finding help and information much quicker. Thanks to the Internet - and thanks to you. Shared information is good for us all.

Featured in this Newsletter are-

1. Chilli Children
2. CBS story
3. Fighting RSD together
4. Drugs on RSD Alert
5. RSD Alert statistics
6. RSD Alert Helpers
7. Not a charity
8. Mailing List

Chilli Children
We're now featuring a charity on the RSD Alert website. It's not about RSD, but it is about pain. We understand what pain is, but most of us live in the developed world where treatment is reasonably accessible. The Chilli Children charity works for children in Africa who have limb injuries and deformities that can be treated - but aren't because their parents can't afford it or can't get to the treatment centres. Chilli Children earns money for its work by growing chilli to fund the medical work. So they're not passively holding out a begging bowl. But they really need help - and just a little money goes a long way. You understand pain, so help yourself by looking at someone else's problem. Visit the Chilli Children website see what they do, and consider making a small donation.

CBS Story
CBS gave prominence to the story of a New York City Detective with a reputation supported by awards and decorations who was forced into retirement when he developed RSD following an injury sustained in the line of duty. Look the story up for yourself. It's no pleasure to us to hear of another sufferer, but at least the story put RDS in the news. This quite an old story but we're pleased to spread it around.

Fighting RSD Together
Read Cheryl's story highlights a typical difference between children and adults facing the onset of RSD. Younger people often achieve quicker remission, which may largely be because they are younger; but it's also because they are more likely to work harder at getting

Drugs on RSD Alert
Our drugs pages form a very busy section on the RSD Alert website and thank you to all who contribute to it. We receive submissions from people with all sorts of conditions. However, we generally only publish submissions from the RSD community because we are always conscious of our core aims. Despite that, we are grateful for every submission, recognising that there is always more to learn from the people who actually use these medications. We appreciate information about any new drugs or treatments that are being prescribed to combat the pain and other symptoms of RSD/CRPS. If you

RSD Alert statistics
Our website statistics tell us that 30,000 to 40,000 visitors come to RSD Alert each month (it goes up and down between those figures, but is growing overall). We don't do anything to advertise the site, so these people are finding us because they looked. We're only one RSD website among many, so what does that tell us about the numbers of people who suffer from RSD/CRPS? Don't let anyone tell you that RSD is rare!

RSD Alert Helpers
Give a round of applause to the team that supports RSD Alert (if it hurts to clap your hands just shout a "thank you!). The team consists entirely of volunteers who handle the enquiries and try to encourage those who write in. None of them are experts in the professional sense, but they know what it is to feel pain and struggle for explanations. If you are interested in joining the team log on to www.rsdalert.co.uk and send us a message.

Not a charity
RSD Alert is not a charity; we are not seeking money; it is a privately run website, supported by a team of international volunteers and partially funded by advertising. It was founded early in Millennium Year (2000) and has watched and reported on RSD events for the past 10 years. We have seen progress in that time; 10 years ago most RSD patients thought they must suffer alone, not realising that this condition is widespread and that they can share information with other sufferers locally and around the world. Congratulations to all those people who organise help-groups, meetings, events and websites to help fellow-sufferers and to spread awareness of RSD/CRPS. If you run a group that is not featured on our Help Groups page write and tell us about it.

Mailing list
We have stopped mailing Newsletters, mainly because we could not keep up with the work involved. But, in any case, everyone gets more than enough emails these days. For news about RSD it is still worth checking these pages. And, if you have news you would likke to spread around we will be pleased to hear about it and include it in a future Newsletter.

Thanks for taking an interest.
Be as pain-free as you can but, in any case... don't give up.

Derrick Phillips
(RSD Alert Editor)