There are many CRPS/RSD patients who generously share their experiences on the net, in blogs and support groups etc, but certainly at the time of my accident and even now there are virtually no other resources for anyone with CRPS who does not have access to the internet. I became acutely aware of how isolated those people must feel, because even with all the support I was receiving, the high levels of pain I was experiencing tended to make me feel as though I was very alone.

The knuckles in my right hand were crushed when I slipped while unloading a heavy garden pot from the back of a car. The pot came crashing down on my hand.

From the outset my hand was extremely painful and excessively swollen.

Since I am right handed I began to use my left hand to write and it very quickly became a diary. As the pain sensations became more exaggerated and out of proportion to the injury, I became more and more frightened and quite frankly embarrassed that I was in so much agony over a fracture.

I was diagnosed with CRPS after about 6 weeks and by then I was fully aware of how psychologically damaging it is when pain is misunderstood or under estimated by those treating you.

Due to the lack of awareness about CRPS I very often felt alienated because of the disproportionate levels of pain. I was often left feeling as though I was perceived as a trouble maker or a nuisance, by some in the Health Service. Let me make this quite clear from the outset this was sporadic and did not apply across the board. I had superb treatment in the NHS as well.

I was supported emotionally by friends who also unconditionally funded my medical expenses, so I was able to seek alternatives outside of the NHS funding as well as receiving some exceptional treatment within it. I was constantly aware of how privileged I was in that respect and having kept records for myself I wanted to share my findings.

Although many of the treatments I accessed were expensive and completely inaccessible to most people without any Health Insurance, there were many which exist within the Health Service, but which are just not automatically prescribed. Others are being marginally accepted and considered for funding. There are some government initiatives in existence right now where Acupuncture is being funded in the short term. This is  exclusively for non-speciic lower back pain. So it appears that there is an acceptance that it may be an effective treatment for some ailments. Perhaps if Acupuncture and indeed Alexander Technique were requested more often they may be taken more seriously in this regard and be included in standard treatment regimes.

About three months after my accident I was introduced to Visual Feedback using a Mirror and found it helped so much that I designed one which I could fold away after use, but which was big enough for me to make wide wrist and arm movements. Mirror work really is therapeutic and I recommend it as a pain management option.