Michelle's Story

I am a strong woman. I am a stubborn woman, but I am a strong woman.

I was an active kid, and as a gymnast I survived several injuries. One being a very badly broken arm and a year long rehabilitation process. Soon after my arm incident I developed rare blood disorder (ITP) which was another difficult fight. All this before the age of 13. I some how managed to go through all that with my hope, passion and health still intact. This is where the strength of family and friends come to light. I am now facing one of the most challenging times in my life, and they are the glowing lights that keep my world from falling dark. I am now an RSD sufferer. I am a stubborn, strong woman faced with RSD.

It has been a year and a half since injuring my right foot. It has been a year since the Doctors that were trying to heal the pain in my foot created the situation that keeps my feet on fire, and life at a standstill.

I had planned to attempt a 5K run as a means to bring a new challenge to my world. I have always been athletic and exercised daily but this was my first commitment to a 5k. I supplied myself with a new pair of the best running shoes, and was recommended orthotics to give me the best support. Then it was off to the gym to run 3 miles each day and work up to a full run for as long as my new shoes would let me. Sadly, the orthotics were not placed in the right position in the arch of my feet. After a couple weeks of running with visions of a finish line, I found a finish line far closer than I had wanted. The poorly recommended orthotics had given me the condition known as "turf toe".

The downward spiral starts there. After many Dr. visits, and a mixture of unrealistic healing time frames, I was subjected to air casts, hard casts, and a final Human Growth Hormone injection that has forever changed my existence. Through all this I never missed one day of work. The 10 min appointment for the Human Growth Hormone injection was done after work on a Friday, this was my last day of work. From Friday to Monday I had a pain set in unlike anything I had ever experienced. After several more appointments of me begging for relief and answers I was sent to pain management. It was there I was given the answer " You have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy". All I was thinking was OK ... fix it! I, like many, had never heard of RSD and had no idea what that meant for me and not only my future, but my families future as well.

It is the love and support of my family and friends that make the difference. I work everyday to do what I can to show my loved ones that I have not given up, in hopes that they will never give up on me. I was once someone who chose to set my alarm clock at five fifteen in the morning so I could get up and get my work out in before getting ready for work throwing on my heels and running out the door! Now I lie in bed every morning giving myself a pep talk to just to stand up because of the pain.

I miss feeling the floor under my feet, I miss my shoes (mostly my flip flops), I miss walking with purpose and most of all I miss my feet preRSD!!

The one thing that I am most thankful for are the many memories my feet have given me. My favorite one of all is the walk through the sand toward the love of my life, Jason, on our wedding day. My story is far from over but I know the ending will be whatever I make it, and with the help of my husband, family and friends the only ending possible is a happy one!

I will continue to hope and pray for a cure and in the meantime take it one day at a time!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.