Small Introduction

My name is Alison, I am 13 years old and I suffer from RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) in my left leg and right arm.

I developed RSD on the 20th March 2007 when I was just 12 years old after I fell down some steps and sprained my left ankle. I was finally diagnosed with RSD in July 2007 by a Pain Management Doctor after 4 long months of things getting worse and worse as each day went by. When I was diagnosed with RSD, my PM Doctor performed a Guanethidine nerve block in hope that it would at least reduce some of my pain but unfortunately I suffered from complications from the block and developed severe balance and co-ordination problems (whenever I tried to walk, my leg would just through itself out in front of me and I would have to have my mom take me almost everywhere!)

In September 2007, just 2 months after I was diagnosed with RSD, my PM Doctor prescribed me Amitriptyline as I wasn't sleeping but once again my body reacted to the med and I suffered from a side effect of blurred vision. I wanted to try and stay as independant as I possibly could, even though my vision was blurry and I couldn't walk or stand on my own without support, so I tried to get out of the bath tub on my own. Unfortunately whilst I was trying to get out of the bath tub, I knocked my right arm and within 2 hours my arm had begun to swell up really bad, become painful and lock into a fist. My mom called my PM Doctor and he asked me to come and see him the next day and I got the news I was dreading - my RSD had spread to my right arm!! Thankfully, my arm is a lot better than it was now although I still have some moderate pain.

At the moment I am trying my best to stay positive even though it is hard at times and I decided to create this blog so that I can express my feelings and so that people can keep up to date with how I am doing!!