29 Years Old And Desperately In Need Of A Government Disability Grant For RSD
by Heather Martin
RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) of the Right Foot
I am totally and permanently disabled for the rest of my life due to a disease called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). The disease is extremly rare and I am only 1% of RSD patients that have it throughout my entire body, systemic RSD. I broke my right foot in January 2006 in a freak accident. I was at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA, enjoying a baseball game with my friends. When the game was over a 300lb+ man lost his balance and crushed my foot. This was no ordinary break. My foot was black and burning to the point where you could not come within inches of my foot without me screaming in pain. It was that sensitive. I felt like someone had poured gasoline on my foot and threw a match on it. I was diagnosed with a hairline fracture on the fifth metatarsal of my right foot. This usually takes 6-8 weeks to heal. Mine took 30 weeks. I was sent from my orthopedist to a pain management doctor because he thought I could have RSD in that foot. If caught early, within six months, I would have a greater chance of it going away. I was diagnosed in August 2006. I was having lumbar sympathetic blocks every week, being completely anethesetized, and they were only helping for a couple days each time. By August 2006 the pain had spread into my left foot. This is commmon in only 25% of RSD patients. We continued the sympathetic blocks and intensive physical therapy. We were getting nowhere fast. By December 2007, I had elected to try a Spinal Cord Stimulator Trial for 10 days. If I liked it, I could then have a permanent one placed. By the fifth day of the trial, I was in so much pain that I had to have it removed from my spine. Within two weeks of this, the RSD had spread up my trunk area, into my hands, arms, neck, chest, and face. I was in excruciating pain. This happens to less than 1% of RSD patients. So, I had a lot of doctors telling me that it was all in my head and I was devastated. RSD is considered the most painful nerve disease that you can ever have. My quality of life was completely taken away. I lost a great job as an Office Manager of an aerospace company, and had to pay COBRA for insurance for two years, $400 a month, just to get Social Security benefits. There is no cure for my disease and I suffer every day, all day. I have had over 200 epidurals/blocks, averaging twice a week. I am on eight different pain, nerve, depression, anxiety, and seizure medications. Sheets cannot even touch my body without me crying. Showers and baths are excruciating. I need help with everything I do. I can no longer drive either. I live off of Social Security and have two daughters. I will never be able to work again and really wish there was some kind of grant that I could get from the government. I don't wish for anyone to feel sorry for me, I just want my family to have a decent life, instead of living SS check to SS check. My medical bills are piling up and I know there are procedures out there that I will never be able to afford without assistance. I have no other options, but to ask for help. Please, if any one is listening, I would appreciate you looking into this matter. I can't imagine the rest of my life like this and I don't want my daughters to suffer. If I don't get better treatment I could be in a wheelchair soon and my body will start to deform. Medicare does not cover many treatments and procedures. Thanks so much for your care and concern. I hope to hear back soon. I'm counting on there being assistance in the form of government disability grants to help me deal with my RSD.
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