Health Update

(Cathy) It's been awhile since I have updated everyone on my health. I am happy to say that I am finally back at work full time. That is the good news. As for my left arm, the condition remains. I do not know how to refer to it. I refuse to call it a disability. On the paperwork my left arm has been labeled as "officially non-functional". I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) now known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). This resulted from a skiing accident on January 07th, 2012. I have limited use of my left arm. It is is constant pain, burning, pressure, pin pricks, cold as ice - just to name a few symptoms. I have found that being constantly in pain is very exhausting which is why I am glad to be back at work. I find the distraction very helpful. It's good to have to get up and get ready to go somewhere every day. It's ok to come home tired. I feel better for it. I have modified work responsibilities and that's ok. This is a positive move forward for me. Before I went back to work I was fighting hard not to slip into depression. I could recognize it happening and fought it tooth and nail. I am lucky to have a great, loving family and great friends who all helped to keep me "normal". I am not on any medication for pain relief. I think I have tried every "infomercial" brand of medication. None of them worked. Not even a little bit and the side effects were horrendous. I have decided to keep myself busy and work on dealing with the pain. It's going to be around for the rest of my days unless it goes into remission. 

The other part of my health issue is the incidental finding of a small brain tumour. It is not cancerous! It could have been there from the day I was born. I have to say that it sucks knowing that it is there. I have to keep getting MRI's done every nine to twelve months just to make sure it does not change. I try not to think about it too much as there is not much I can do about it.

Think positive thoughts!