Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)

[apollon]

IS IT SEVERE ENOUGH THAT WILL CAUSE ME TO OBTAIN PERMANENT PROFILE BY LIMITING MY PHYSICAL EXERSICES I AM IN THE ARMY

[jimbo320]

Hi,
If you don't mind, I need more info to go on. I too lost use of my left arm and hand due to RSD.
I used to drive over the road but lost my ability to work. Also enjoyed playing music so I'm down to playing one handed keyboard.

Jimbo

[miley7]

I also have rsd of my right hand and arm was diagnosed almost two years ago. I have been a nurse for 20 years and have yet been able to return to work. would like to hear your story if that is ok thank miley7

[jimbo320]

Hi Miley,
I was an over the road truck driver and while in Stanton Island, NY I was involved in an accident avoiding the car that cut me and another truck off. The car crossed over from the far left lane, cut the truck off in the second lane, then cut me off which I was in the right lane, just to get off the
exit. When the driver saw a 25 mph sign for the exit, it cameto a stop right in front of me. Being empty I could not come to a complete stop so I tried to aim between him and the truck next to me. My tractor brakes grabbed harder than my trailer brakes so that put me into a spinning skid. I managed to avoid hitting anybody and aimed for the concrete rail on the inside of bridge/overpass I was on. I thought I was at enough of an angle that I would hit the rail and go off to the median.
No such luck. I crashed through the rail and down 25 feet to the road below. I ended up lying outside the tractor tangled in my seat belt. When I came to, my left upper arm was
completely snapped in two just above the elbow. I was rushed to a hospital in Stanton Island where I was treated for a concussion and three days later a rod was put in my arm. Three days after that I took a flight back to NC. Lost the truck, which was mine, and everything in it except my cell phone and my license. Since then I had my wrist fused to straighten it from the bent position it was in. My arm still cannot straighten completely and it feels more comfortable if I hold it like Napoleon. The wrist fusion had a slim chance off making my pain better thinking some of it might be due to nerve pinching but it didn't. As the orthopedist said, it is what it is....

Thanks for listening, Jimbo

[reruho]

I am not sure of you question. If you are asking if this could medically retire you or cause you to be seperated from the Army, the answer could be yes. It will all depend on how badly you are affected/disabled by this condition. The Army will look at it from a fitness for duty angle.

Many of us still work fulltime and many of us do not work due to being disabled by the condition.

I know I could not do the job I did in the Navy. It was not a physically demanding job in many ways. But, I worked on the waterfront in New England and I could not work outside or in a drydock because of the cold temperatures. I do not handle the cold temperatures well anymore.

We need more information in order to better answer your question. Tell us your story.
Reta

[Raindancer10]

Hi miley:

I will make this short for today is a "bad" day actually a week. I too am a nurse and 2 years with this dx. I have better gross control of hand and the sensitivity is more bearable. Light touch is a killer though. Trying to open bottles. packages ..can be a challeng..Is just hard to explain all ths to doctors and friends because they dont see it.

[christine1003]

i agree with raindancer i get scared if anyone gets close to me that they might brush up againt my, my hair flowing on my bac kills, i have a stimulator and it helps my arm but i also have difficulty opening water bottles or anything i lost stregnth in that arm and hand

[miley7]

It is very hard and you are right when someone doesn't see or have 100 percert truth it exist it is not believed. The dr's I have are very very good they listen, spend time with me to understand it they notice I am having a bad day. sorry it is taken me so long my hands are killing me today. well sorry I will try to get on later ok. miley