The Strangest Thing Happened!!!

Today at work...
it was totally unexpected...
I couldn't believe it...
in fact, I am still shocked...
I FELT BETTER!!!

The Lidoderm, the socks, and all that Lyrica are truly helping or at least making my bout with RSD tolerable.  I'm under no illusion that the ortho shoes won't at some point make a comeback, but y'all I've ordered some regular shoes from Zappo's and I have every confidence that I can wear them.  Here they are in all their comfy glory:

They are Birki's by Birkenstock and I selected them since so many RSD patients listed Birkenstock's as the only shoes they could tolerate.  I think we could tolerate cowboy boots, dressy loafers, and ah yes, stilettos if someone would just invent lidocaine socks.

Foot...Loose

My, how times change.  Kevin Bacon probably can't dance in warehouses like that anymore.  I love that movie though.  When I was stuck in this cast, I hated it.  Really hated it.  Now, I'm a little jealous of this picture.  Have I lost my mind?  Well, probably.

I've been reading a lot about immobility and RSD.  Things like notes in which people assert that artificial immobility (like a cast or brace) caused their RSD or at least made it significantly worse.  I've also read about the importance of physical therapy for the RSD patient in preventing complete immobility of the affected limb.

I'm not sure that I've noticed many who have admitted how much keeping your RSD limb covered and immobile actually feels better.  Moving my foot hurts.  Granted it hurts plenty when I'm not moving it, but movement makes it worse.  I don't know if it's the vibration of the muscles...admittedly the whole thing is hard to explain, but I do know that once I am wearing Lidoderm patches and at least four thick socks, I feel better.  Unless I am running late from "dressing" my foot.  The stupid cast was actually quicker.  Who knew?

OK, This Is Scary

There is a mall close to me that I love.  It is rather quiet and serene and ridiculously upscale with its Tiffany's and Louis Vuitton.  Then there is the mega mall that is not close, but houses every store anyone could want.  Its mass market appeal is almost nauseating to me.  Talk about overstimulating.  Whew.  

Today I had to make my only-about-twice-a-year trek to the Mega Mall.  I took Pretty Girl (my just-turned-five year old daughter) to the Build-A-Bear Workshop.  It was fun.  She chose Hello Kitty.  A girl after my own heart. Then we spent copious amounts of time and money in Claire's, then there was the Hello Kitty kiosk, and the Carousel-all of which seemed to be at opposite ends of the Mega Mall.  We finished our day by eating at Chili's.  After all, we were starving and needed some mass market appeal food for our growling tummies.

I propped my foot up on the booth in Chili's although it wasn't really very comfortable.  I tried to relax my muscles on the drive home.  Of course, I had tons of Mom Duties before actually sitting down to rest.  Once I did...pain, tingling, burning.  Not just my foot, but my entire leg.  I haven't really had that before.  Maybe it was all the activity, the hard mall floor, just newly being out of the ortho boot (and into this ortho shoe).  I don't know, but my entire leg hurts.  Sure my husband knows, but I don't want to exhaust him by complaining about it, so off to the blog I go.  Dear Internet, thank you for listening.  

More about the Shoe that Everyone Asks about

Here's a hint.  It's not this one.

I ordered this pair of super cute Rocket Dog pumps from Zappo's although I can only wear the right one.  I think they are bound to generate some compliments, but probably only from people who have finished asking about my other shoe...which is this one.

I've mentioned before it is the Darco APB All Purpose Boot.  I wear it because I suffer from RSD which is an acronym for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.  The symptoms that I have are the constant burning and tingling of the top of my foot as well as the sensation that someone is slicing a knife through my forefoot.

I am never without a Lidoderm patch (lately both top and bottom of my foot), an Ace bandage, flat surgical tape, at least five thick socks, and this boot.  As you might imagine regular shoes are far too painful and then there's that little matter of needing those thick socks for cushioning.  All of those combined are about as thick as a surgical dressing.  Maybe one day if shoes aren't painful I'll buy one size 6 1/2 and one size 8, but until then it's the APB for me.  I should mention for my fellow RSD patients out there, this boot is ideal because of the cushioning, the velcro for loosening, and the rocker bottom.  I've read that a lot of RSD patients wear Crocs, but those are actually painful for me.  I'm not sure how many RSD'ers find Crocs painful, but since fashionistas find them painful (albeit on a different level), I know I am not alone. hee hee

*fellow patients...this can be ordered online from any medical supply company...just google.  My doctor recommended.

My Favorite Cast

My favorite cast was this purple one.  Even I have to admit that is a weird thing to say because wearing a cast was hands-down my least favorite thing to ever happen to my left foot.  Although this one was light-weight and I eventually learned, comfortable as far as casts go, I wasn't that bummed about this one because it was my first.  (More on that later).  I was filled with optimism that it would be my only one.  I had three more, along with two orthopedic boots, and now this.

The Darco APB All Purpose Boot.  Cute, huh?  Not like stilettos.  

I can't help but be afraid I may need this one for awhile.  No first-cast optimism here.  Now I have RSD.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy for the uninitiated.  Actually the more accurate term is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.  It happens when the nerves in a particular part of the body go...haywire and there is constant pain, burning, tingling, swelling, skin color changes, electric shock sensations, and temperature changes.  There are other symptoms like nail changes; I just have the ones I listed.  Just.  Anyone with RSD will tell anyone without RSD that it is enough to drive you crazy.  Crazy because there's always a bit of your mind that is occupied on the pain and crazy because it's embarrassing that you can't wear normal shoes.  Currently I wear a Lidoderm (lidocaine 5%) patch along with five thick and very soft socks and then the above ortho shoe.  Hopefully two upcoming sympathetic lumbar nerve blocks will remedy my situation.  We'll see.  I'll let you know.  That is if someone eventually reads my entry and hopefully feels less alone as they don sock after sock and wear a surgical shoe to face everyday life.