Paula Abdul Suffering From RSD - Reflex Sympathy Dystrophy
Due to my June 2004 post about her nail infection, Zap*Germs has received many visits from search-engine users concerned about Paula Abdul's newly disclosed medical problem. Apparently she's suffering constant pain from Reflex Sympathy Dystrophy syndrome (RSD), due to several past injuries. Learn more from this detailed MSNBC article, and a post on the RSD website.
You can also look for Paula's music on Amazon.
posted by Don @ 8:14 AM
11 comments
11 Comments:
My name is Annette Doucette. I was in a auto accident in June 2005 and hadinjured my whole left side of my body. In Sept.2005 I had c5 and c6 disc's removed from my spine and nerve damaged repaired. After the surgery my pain kept gettng worse. I have lost custody of my son due to the chronic pain and not being able to work. I was diagnosed with RSD. I CAN SAY Paula is not alone. I am fighting with an eating disorder due to the chronic pain. Paula your not alone. The sad part is no-one understands. I fight every day wondering if I can hang in there just another day for my kids and my fiance. For now all I can say is Theraoy lots and lots of sych. therapy. I geuss I'm rambling but I'm scared. Like alot of others. Hang in There and don't give up.
Hi Annette - I felt I had to respond to your comment. My husband has suffered from RSD for over 10 years. He lives a miserable existence since they cannot seem to control or help his pain. There are a couple of websites that address RSD and helpful things to do and provide support. I agree that support not only for the sufferer but also for his family helps alot. We are hoping that maybe Paula will step forward and start some sort of recognition of this disease so that more than be done about it.
Hello, I am new to this site and have recently been diagnosed with RSD among other cursorary diagnoses.
I have had doctors refer to Fybromyalgia, RSD, and a host of other neurological disorders.
I have been suffering from these symptoms for more than four years now and have been terminated from a number of jobs in just the last three and a half years because I have days when I cannot even get out of my house let alone those days when I cannot get out of bed.
I would like to know what I can do to alleviate the symptoms and how can I get a job where the employer can actually understand my medical problems.
I am not a dumb person. I currently hold five A.S. degrees and a B.S. degree. At the time all this started I was working on a B.S. and M.S. degree at the same time. (I have always been on the Deans List.)
It is nice to know that I am not the only person out there living with the same symptoms and pains. But I would like to know what I can do to help myself.
Thank you,
Michael Lewis
My name is Carrie. I'm 22yrs old and I was in a bad car accident when I was 19 where I really messed my shoulder up. After my accident I lossed my chance to finish my LAST 11wks of college which was just and externship as a dental Asst., and graduate at the top of my class. I ended also having to move back to home with my parents all the way across the country.I have tried any and all treatment imaginable and nothings worked. So now here I am 3 1/2 yrs later since unable to work. I would like to get the word out there about this diease!!!!! In the mean time I try to take things minute by minute, and right now this mintue I know I'll make it to the next one. GOOD LUCK!!! Support groups help!!!
My name is Christine. I am 30 and was in a terible car acticent in late 2003. I learned that I had 2 herniated disks in my back, cronich whiplash through out my back, and have vertibras that slip in my neck. i have been in costant cronich pain since then through out my back. Cortizone injections that only worked for 3 weeks 6 months of PT and more drugs then
I can remember. I stuggle to get through each day, don't take all the drugs that the dr.s' want me to so i don't lose my kids from possible addictions. People keep telling me to just go find a job which how can you do if you don't know if you will be able to stand in 1/2 hour or not. Dr.s keep telling me well it's like this but your not suffering from that. I try to stay as active as possible to keep my muscles moving which i think is helping. I just heard about RSD and CRPS through an associate and it sounds alot like what i deal with every day. I would like to know what to ask the dr. to get more help and is there really any relief out there from this kind of pain? Any tips and addvice would be greatly appreciated.
Hey, my name is Chrissy and I am 21yrs old this past March was my 10th year anniversay with RSD. I am so look to say that I have had two beautiful daughters and still able to go to school when possible. I hurt so much that I cry myself to sleep my two yr.old already help out around the house, by helping me with my crutch or with her sister. I just wish someone could find out what this is and how to get rid of it. The thing is with me I have it body wide, where my whole body is in pain and there is nothing I can do no matter what. It hurts for me to walk it hurts for me sit, to lay down. I look at my girls everyday and say because they need someone to be there for them and make a way for them. I can go to school and try and hold a job, sometimes on my job I want to cry, I cry myself to sleep so much since I don`t live with my mother anymore. I was diagnosed with RSD at 11 yrs. old and at age 10 I was diagnosed with Bells Palsey (also a nerve disorder). I have been to the point of in a wheel-chair for almost a yr. to walking with walkers, arm crutchs, etc. Also the point of where you can say I was parlysis because I was unable to move anything, my mother had to baths, feed, take me to the bathroom. It hurt so bad when she use to touch me that it felt like she was stable me with each touch.
I just hope my story will let you all know what you are in for. I don`t know how I got RSD, I DIDNT HAVE A ACCIDENT, OR A INJURY. Thats the werid part, they found me in the girls bathroom when I was in the 7th grade just crying , not knowing how I got there just that I could let anyone touch me and I could move. I still wonder what did I do to desvered this.
SOMEONE HELP!!!! jaquane@bellsouth.net
Chrissy
HI my name is Alicia. I suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy aka Complex Regional Pain Syndrome A.k.a Causalgia( which means burning pain). I have lived With RSD for almost 5 years. I had a work related accident in 2002. Therefore me having that accident I had been later diagnosed with RSD. THE ROAD GETS TOUGH EVERYDAY AND LIVING WITH THIS IS SO PAINFUL AND ROBS YOU OF YOUR ENERGY AND LIFE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING LOTS OF ATTACKS FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS MY BODY IS ACTING STUPID AND I AM TIRED. HAVING THIS DISEASE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO END YOUR LIFE IT IS A SEVERE NERVE CONDITION. TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER WITH THIS I LOVE YOU BE STRONG AND I AM ALWAYS HERE IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAN BE HARD PLEASE CONTACT ME AT ALICIA1099A@EXCITE.COM GOD BLESS YOU ALL I PRAY THAT THEY HURRY AND FIND A CURE BECAUSE I AM TIRED OF DEALING WITH RSD. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP US!!!!!!!!!!GOD, DOCTORS NURSES, NEUROLOGITS PLEASE HELP!!!!! SINCERELY ALICIA
For those of us that have RSD/CRPS, it would be really nice if Paula Abdul came forward more to talk about her experiences and help get the word out. Instead she is on national television acting irrational because of her medications (I've been there, I know how she felt) but instead of using it as a teaching experience, she instead mentioned it once and didn't elaborate.
I have RSD/CRPS. I don't like to say that I suffer from my condition, I am afflicted with my condition.
Become involved. Find a support group that you feel comfortable in. It's your pain. It's your life. Find someone you can trust, cause you will need it.
I have a blog to help people understand someones life with RSD/CRPS. Even if no-one reads it, at least you can get your feelings out.
I hurt daily. I have a spinal cord stimulator implanted. It helps. I am not completely bedridden. I still spend a lot of time in bed and overexerting myself hurts me badly; but I keep fighting.
Please get aggressive treatment.
Primary Care
Pain Management
Psychologist/Psychiatrist
Water Therapy
Physical Therapy
Acupuncture
Chiropractor
Move it or lose it. It hurts to move it, but you have to try and keep yourself strong. You have to try and keep your muscles strong.
Always pain free hugs,
Christine
http://AfflictedWithRSD.com
http://blog.christineleiendecker.com
Absolutely agree with what Christine has written above. It would be bloody fabulous if Paula would use her position as a celebrity to help raise awareness about this silent monster.
I have also started a blog to share my journey and help people to understand a little about what it's like to live with RSD. Please feel free to watch and share my videos.
-Caf
http://rellacafa.blogspot.com
I had RSD / CRPS and was disabled for a year - in constant pain, on huge amounts of painkillers, unable to walk because my foot was paralyzed (paralysis often is one of the symptoms). Four doctors told me to get used to it and that I would be permanently disabled. Finally I found a doctor who cured it - I am not almost symptom free. The proper treatment is to have the nerve ganglions at the base of the spine anaesthetized repeatedly (my doctor described it as similar to shutting off a computer and rebooting). The chemicals have to be the right ones - not steroids, but anaesthesia - I don't remember precisely what was used. There is no guarantee of a complete cure - I am very fortunate (diagnosed within one day, rather than eight months, which is the average - and treated before the disease had progressed past stage one) - but you are virtually guaranteed to improve. The protocol was developed at Univ. of Pa. - try to find a pain doctor who is a graduate of that school. Because this disease is not well-known, there is no universally-accepted treatment. The one developed aat U. Pa is the closest you will find. Do not ever allow a dr to sever the nerves - it will exacerbate the condition. It is a horrible thing to live with - best of luck to all.
My sister has suffered, and Idon't use the word suffered lightly, for 2 years. Hers began as a result of an accident. Her main affliction was her Left foot. She had all the neurological symptoms, pain, burning uncontrolled muscle spasms but she also had the physical aspect. Her foot appeared neurcotic and "dead" with decreased blood flow. it weep with fluid and swelled. The foot became,quickly unusable. She became crutch and wheelchair dependent. She then developed it in her left wrist and right cheek.
She went through every and I mean every course of treatment including nerve blocks, pain pump implants and even ketamine treatment (she had some good effects from this but it was horrible) Long story short. She just had her left leg amputated (not a recommended treatment as this is a nerve disease and is systemmic) There is NO CURE. Remarkably she is RSD free right now. It has been 1 month and she is pain free. With the help of ketamine during surgery the areas on the arm and face cleared and have helped the stump maintain healthy tissue. We still hold our breath with everyday as it can come back at anytime but feel truly blessed for this time.
There is hope. Never give up. Depression can be the downfall to this and it is understandable. If you would like more info pretaining to her treatment options please feel free to contact me. tkreiter@verizon.net
Good Luck and God Bless.
Shannon Kreiter
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