A Kiwi challenges the pain - by Wendy Everitt

RSD Alert

www.rsdalert.co.uk

Warning and encouraging

Wendy lives in Wellington, New Zealand and is a member of the RSD Alert Team.

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Hi My name is Wendy and I live in Wellington New Zealand. I am 47 and live alone most of the time however, at this time my son Damien (21) and his girlfriend Sharlene (18) are staying with me while looking for a place of their own. I have a miniature black Poodle named Benjy and twin cats called Sid and Munchkin. I enjoy gardening as my hobby.
Back in 1998 I damaged a rotatory cuff lifting heavy cartons down from high shelving at work. I had several months of physiotherapy at the time and eventually it all settled down and all I was left with was a sharp knitting needle type pain coming out from my spine (C6/C7) to my shoulder-blade area. No one took any notice of it when I mentioned it and I just learnt to live with it.
In 2000 I changed positions at work and started doing full time data entry. On a couple of occasions my arm would feel heavy and my fingers tingly so I reported it to my supervisor. We have a masseuse that comes in every two weeks who gives upper-body massages and I decided I would have one at this time to relax my muscles. Approximately 10-15 minutes after the massage my neck and back seized and I couldn't move my head... I was in a huge amount of pain. The masseuse tried 4 times to get me more comfortable but was unable to help. I was sent to the physiotherapist across the road from work and she diagnosed me with neck and back sprain, giving a time frame for healing of two weeks.
Well I was in a neck brace for 4 months and physio from May till September - all to no avail and the pain just got worse and worse. ACC (workers comp in NZ) took the claim as being a continuation of the original injury in 1998, which was a blessing.
One day at work it got so bad that I couldn't move my arm at all; not to write nor answer the phone. That is when I collapsed in all ways, physically and emotionally, and I was put off work by my doctor. I have seen two specialists and had physio and psychological treatment. The specialists both diagnosed me with RSD/CRPS 1 and the physio and psychological treatment didn't appear to be helping me. I was also on quite a few drugs - Gabapentine, Prozac, Clonozepam, Brufen, Dihydrocodiene, Aropax and Amiltriptyline - out of these Gabapentine and Prozac were not helpful to me at all.

I have been off work over 18 months and recently I was sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Rotorua for 3 weeks pain management, which has proven to be a godsend. I learnt a lot about how to cope with the pain, what to do to reduce the level of pain, what causes the pain and, most importantly, not to be afraid of the pain. I learnt about exercise, diet, health - both mental and physical - and all about the muscle groups and how they are affected by your body's pain. I came back home with confidence in my ability to achieve a more normal life in spite of having RSD.

I started back at work last week for 3 hours a day. I have had some not so bad days and some horrible days where my hand turned to a claw and wouldn't budge and my arm was unusable by the end of the week... but the most important thing was that I was able to go and be a part of the life I once had. It won't be easy; I don't expect to be like I once was; but I am out there trying - and that makes me feel good about myself.
I learnt that being at home with RSD did not make me feel better physically. I even got worse... from the beginnings of RSD in my back, shoulder and neck it has spread literally head-to-toe. The physiotherapist at Q.E. found I was constricted throughout my body and some muscles are so tight they feel as hard as bone. Also the bones in both my wrists are affected and nothing can be done to help them.
Those of us unfortunate enough to have RSD have to learn to move constantly. Mobility is our main weapon against this disease; exercise is they key.
I know that at this time there is no cure for RSD and I accept that there is nothing that I can do that will cure me - but I refuse to give in and let this disease take my life away. I will not accept being an invalid without any choices.

We endorse the benefits of pain management training and support. If you suffer chronic pain, check your locality for clinics or courses. For another example of the help received through a pan management course see - Sam's Progress in Pain Management.

Wendy's story does not end there, as she now runs an RSD Support Group and website herself - the first in New Zealand, as far as we know. To see her updated story click here. To visit the New Zeland website click here.