Hope, Healing & Wellness by Laurie Lisonbee

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My story is perhaps different from many RSD sufferers; it is one of hope, healing and wellness. I am lucky that with my early, immediate diagnosis, and after only a few weeks of physical therapy, my RSD is healing wonderfully. I had fractured my wrist in a bike crash and it was healing normally when suddenly about a month later, I was seized with the pain, swelling, and dystrophy of RSD. When I was originally diagnosed and read the horror stories of RSD on the Internet, I was terrified. Besides the pain, swelling and dystrophy, I was experiencing a myriad of other strange symptoms as described on the web sites: bizarre circulation problems, warm temperature, strange sensitivities, hair growth, yellow fingernails, etc. My doctor and physical therapist told me to stop reading, stop thinking about RSD and just do the exercises. After about six weeks of hand exercises, these symptoms are all gradually disappearing and I am using my hand enough to write at the computer!

I believe a big part of the healing is a result of reducing stress and physical activity as my doctor recommended. In fact, I believe my bike crash was in part caused by my inner stress over family problems, which made me unsteady on the bike. After I got RSD, the more I fretted over it and the family problems, the worse were the RSD symptoms. I also noticed that if I was more physically active in my employment and in caring for my home and family, the pain and swelling increased. A chiropractor explained to me that the nerves in my hand had gone "wacko" so logically the best thing was to try to relax mentally and physically so the nerves could relax. She took me through several positive affirmations, which I practiced vocally throughout each day, such as "I give my hand permission to heal." When I followed doctor's orders to eliminate as many activities as possible, to rest and create a calm emotional environment, I saw real improvement. The biggest leap in healing occurred when I took a five-day vacation away from children, pets, work, responsibilities and worries. That was the real turning point when I began to regain use of my hand. I had to be driven to the vacation destination; but I returned home with my two hands on the steering wheel!

Through my faith in God and His response to my prayers, I have been able to maintain a positive, hopeful attitude that I can be permanently healed. He has helped me get through the dark days of fear and anger with the overriding belief that I will be fully healed. I know that the course of every RSD is different, as my doctor said, "RSD is completely unpredictable, with a life and a mind of its own." Many RSD sufferers are permanently disabled or at best go into remission. Perhaps even I will have a recurrence someday. But I hope there are many of us who can look to a lifetime of wellness. I would welcome e-mails from anyone who has had an experience similar to mine.