Amanda Jones

I have RSD in my right and left leg. It started after I had a fall at work in June of 2000, but what seemed so minor at the time has now become my worst nightmare. I was a waitress and thought at first that it was nothing major. It was just bruised, I thought, so I continued to work normally. But I was in so much pain though it didn't make sense because I knew I hadn't broken any bones. I went home and the bruising and the swelling increased so I treated it with ice and elevation. The next day the pain was still there and it was hurting to put any weight on my leg. Nevertheless, I went to work anyway, but I couldn't last long because standing on my leg was unbearable. The next day I went to the hospital and they told me it was a sprain plus a possible medial meniscus tear. They put my leg in a splint and told me to see an Ortho ASAP. But, through Workers Comp that is not so easy to arrange. I had to go to a clinic to see if an Ortho was needed. They said it wasn't, and diagnosed it as a contusion. After another three weeks in and out of work Workers Comp finally let me see a ortho. The x-rays came back normal so he sent me for an MRI and, in the meantime, started me on Physical Therapy and anti inflammatory treatment. When I went for the MRI results they said it most likely was a medial meniscus tear, but surgery was not needed at the time. They told me to continue the Physical Therapy and medications to see if it would make a difference.

After 5 visits to Physical Therapy I was kicked out and not allowed to return until seen by the doctor because they attempted an ultra sonic treatment, which sent sharp pains into my leg. The doctor gave me a cortisone injection and said, if that didn't help, arthroscopy surgery would be my best option. The injection was terrible I would not recommend it to anyone. It felt like someone blew a balloon up inside my knee. I went back a week later because I could not deal with the pain. They scheduled me for surgery, which went well, though I was in a lot of pain afterwards. I was off the crutches after 2 days and I think that is when I messed up because I fell again. Since then it has been a nightmare. After a lot more pain in my leg I went back to the doctor in November and was diagnosed with RSD. He wanted me to go to Pain Management and have a diagnostic block for RSD. But dealing with the Workers Comp system it takes a year and a half to get approval from the insurance companies.

Well the insurance company didn't believe I had RSD because it was only a minor injury so they sent me for a second opinion. The second doctor confirmed the diagnosis, so I went back to my ortho and he wanted to know how the pain management went. When I told him I hadn't been yet, he was not too happy and told my case manager I needed to go. Eventually, in the middle of January 2001, I went to Pain Management, where they doped me up on medications and began teaching me relaxation techniques. Next I went for my first nerve block, which only worked for about a day. So they tried another one, which did nothing for me. Now the doctor won't do any more because, he says, I would not benefit from another injection and it is not worth the time and money.

After all this, the doctor pulled me out of land based Physical Therapy and started me on aquatic therapy, which helped with weight bearing. As long as I was in the pool I was able to put weight on my leg, provided I was in 4 feet of water or more. I was aquatic therapy for about 3 months and now they have decided that I should be taken out of the treatment to see what the outcome is. Since then I have been in more pain than ever. It is getting harder and harder to walk and I have been using a cane since December 2000. My feet are so swollen I can not wear any shoes, because they don't fit.

My family has also suffered because of RSD but, despite everything I am not giving up hope.

After all that we have to admire your determination, Amanda.