Having RSD means worrying constantly about injuries. At least that's what it means if you are me. Most importantly, there are protocols to be followed after an injury to guard against a spread of the disease. Like mega doses of vitamin C. No ice to combat swelling. And thanks to HAL, no MRIs for diagnostic purposes. (Seems like a small price to pay for pain relief.) It's a lot to remember, especially after an injury. There are also random questions - will HAL affect my judgment on how much an injury hurts? Has my pain tolerance changed after a couple of years of flare-ups? I have spent way too much mental energy wondering about these things.
The good news? I don't have to wonder anymore. I'd like to say I injured myself rescuing children from a burning building. Or sprinting in the Olympic trials. But the truth is that I zigged when I should have zagged and wound up sitting on the ground in a parking lot with a sprained ankle and wounded pride. (Of course, it is my affected right foot. Are you surprised?) Nothing broken - fortunately I can still have x-rays. My doctor was not in the office, but they assigned me a doctor who had at least a passing acquaintance with RSD and enough intellectual curiosity to do some research. I am currently sporting an air cast and I've been reunited with my trusty, battle-worn crutches.
And some of my burning questions are being answered. I remembered the vitamin C rule and my intrepid doctor learned enough through his research to avoid ice and MRIs. I think HAL has made a difference, because my pain level is not commensurate with my swelling and bruising. Which is not to say it doesn't hurt. Because it does. But I can deal with it, at least for the short term. I feel like I am in a race to heal before the RSD spreads. And it's hard to run a race with a sprained ankle.
