Hi Everyone
My name is Stuart i live in the Scottish Highlands and i am an amputee(left leg below knee) and i suffer from RSD/CRPS and have done since my accident in 2002.

Hi Stuart,
First of all, a huge welcome to this group. Also, thank you for sharing a bit about yourself. Since you suffer from RSD/CRPS as I do, I know all too well the pain you feel. As to being an amputee, do you suffer from any other sort of pain? How do you treat your RSD/CRPS? I myself take pain medicine and Klonopin (which is a benzodiazepine, but for some reason reduces the burning pain somehow, which to anyone who doesn't know what it feels like, it feels like someone has set you on fire and is terribly painful). I also use a product called Biofreeze, which is usually sold in doctors' offices or by physical therapists. I buy it via the internet at www.drugstore.com and like the roll-on so I don't get any on my hands. It helps cool the burning sensation. Lastly, I receive acupuncture treatments which help to reduce the pain. I am in pain 24/7, however, which waxes and wanes. The beginning phase is almost too horrible to write about, but I feel I'm past that. I pray and meditate a lot. Meditation has helped me immensely, but it takes practice. Keeping one's stress level down as much as possible is very helpful too as this symptom affects the sympathetic nervous system.

For any group members who do not know what RSD/CRPS is, it stands for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (which is really the old term, but still commonly used)/Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. CRPS has two types: I and II which basically the severity of the syndrome. This chronic pain syndrome is supposedly the most painful of all the chronic pains. I do hope that others will join in and tell about their experiences and what things may help them with pain.

My best thoughts are with you, Stuart. A lot of people have never heard of RSD/CRPS. While it may not be a super common syndrome, it is not uncommon. Millions suffer from it, and many are young children. My heart goes out to you and really anyone who suffers from chronic pain. Bless you. ~ Denise

NICE TO MEET YOU STUART. I SUFFER FROM FIBROMYALGIA AND SOMETHING ELSE WHERE THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW. I HAVE SEVERE CHRONIC PAIN AND AM UNABLE TO WORK AND GET SO LONELY SOMETIMES. NOT SURE HOW THIS SITE WORKS BUT I GUESS IF I STAY WITH IT I WILL LEARN. YOU HAVE AN AWESOME DAY.