DUCKY'S STORY

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="042a11c3.gif"> <div> <B>SITE MENU</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home Page"><U><B>HOME  PAGE</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id43.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" What is Pain??"><U><B>WHAT IS PAIN </B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sympathetic Nervous System"><U><B>SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="McGILL PAIN INDEX CHART"><U><B>McGILL PAIN INDEX CHART</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id54.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" WHAT DOES RSD LOOK LIKE"><U><B>WHAT DOES RSD LOOK LIKE</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Drug Dependence vs Addiction"><U><B>DRUG DEPENDENCE</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Drug Dependence vs Addiction"><U><B>VS</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Drug Dependence vs Addiction"><U><B>ADDICTION</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSD Treatments"><U><B>RSD TREATMENTS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSD Treatments, Page Two"><U><B>RSD TREATMENTS</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSD Treatments, Page Two"><U><B>PAGE 2</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Face to Face Groups "><U><B>FACE TO FACE</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Face to Face Groups "><U><B>SUPPORT</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Face to Face Groups "><U><B>GROUPS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free Medication programs"><U><B>FREE MEDICATION PROGRAMS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personally Recommended RSD Doctors"><U><B>PERSONALLY </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personally Recommended RSD Doctors"><U><B>RECOMMENDED</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personally Recommended RSD Doctors"><U><B>RSD   DRS.</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Interview a New Dr."><U><B>HOW TO </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Interview a New Dr."><U><B>INTERVIEW A</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id44.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Interview a New Dr."><U><B>NEW DOCTOR</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEDICAL PERSONEL"><U><B>OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEDICAL PERSONEL</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Terror of Bad Doctors"><U><B>TERROR OF </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Terror of Bad Doctors"><U><B>BAD DRS.</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Workers Compensation and Legal Issues"><U><B>WORKERS </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Workers Compensation and Legal Issues"><U><B>COMPENSATION</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Workers Compensation and Legal Issues"><U><B>LEGAL  SITES</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our poetry corner"><U><B>OUR  POETRY</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our poetry corner"><U><B>CORNER</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSDVictim Bulletin Board"><U><B>OUR BULLETIN</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSDVictim Bulletin Board"><U><B>BOARD</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSDVictims Chat Room"><U><B>CHAT  ROOM</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Album"><U><B>PHOTO ALBUM</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Open Letter to Our Family Friends"><U><B>OPEN LETTER </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Open Letter to Our Family Friends"><U><B>TO OUR</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id53.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Open Letter to Our Family Friends"><U><B>FAMILIES</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Our Angels "><U><B>"OUR ANGELS"</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In Memory of our Fallen RSDVictims"><U><B>MEMORIAL PAGE OF FALLEN</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id49.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In Memory of our Fallen RSDVictims"><U><B>RSDVICTIMS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Houston Pain Conference Pictures"><U><B>HOUSTON PAIN</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id55.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Houston Pain Conference Pictures"><U><B>CONFERENCE</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Awards"><U><B>AWARDS </B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSDVictimsSpouses Only Group"><U><B>RSD SPOUSES</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSDVictimsSpouses Only Group"><U><B>ONLY  GROUP</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DUCKYS STORY"><U><B>DUCKY'S STORY</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U><B>RELATED LINKS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sign our Guestbook"><U><B>SIGN OUR GUESTBOOK</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Illegal Promotion of Neurontin"><U><B>ILLEGAL PROMOTION OF NEURONTIN</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Patients Bill Of Rights"><U><B>PATIENTS BILL OF RIGHTS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSD Hope Quilt Information"><U><B>RSDHOPE QUILT </B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RSD Hope Quilt Information"><U><B>PROJECT</B></U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Burlesque" >.</FONT></div> <div>  </div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B>DUCKY'S  STORY</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>My name is Ducky, </B></div> <div> <B>I have total body RSD, fibromyalgia, connective tissue disorder, and chronic fatigue.  I have internal organ involvement with the RSD, including but not limited to eyes, mouth, bladder, bowel, liver, ovary.   It is not fun but I have learned we can live with this disease and we can still do many things, the trick is to  not dwell on what we cannot do but rather on the things we are still able to.</B></div> <div> <B>The trick to RSD, is  "Acceptance"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>On July 26th, 1996, I was working as a phlebotomist in an geriatric care facility when I was requested to help transfer a patient to her bed.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As we lifted I felt a popping sensation in the left hand and wrist, and the other person assisting me, heard it also.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The nursing station was only about 100 feet away and by the time Ihad reached her, it had swollen to twice its normal size, and very discolored, and unimaginable pain.</B></div> <div> <B>We were short staffed, so I was not permitted to leave to seek medical help until my shift was over at 6:30am.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I went directly to the ER, where xrays were taken, and the ER Dr. diagnosed a fracture in the scaphoid bone in the wrist, which oft times does not show in xrays. He gave me a prescription of darvocet and sent me home for a couple of days, no work, until I saw my primary physcian.</B></div> <div> <B>Monday morning in her office, she changed the diagosis to a fracture of the navicular bone, due to the area of pain.  I was in a cast for two months.  The pain had not subsided, and had become increasingly worth.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I was at this time sent to an orthopedic surgeon, who after a fifteen minutes  session, where he drew lines  on my hand, told me he knew exactly what was wrong.  I had DeQuerves Tenosyvitis.  He then scheduled surgery in three weeks, as he wanted me to attend some physical therapy to help desensitize the area.  </B></div> <div> <B>The physical therapist applied bags of ice and a electrico stimulation.  I cannot tell you the pain these treatments were to me.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The surgery sent for Oct 11th, 1996 went as planned, until the next day, when the anethesia should have been well gone by now, my hand was terribly numb in spots and began to have muscle spasms which would draw the hand back causing massive pain.  I mentioned this to him the first post-op appointment and his words to me where "Oh stop whinning and get to therapy."</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Well needless to say, I never returned.  I seen an orthopedic in another town who was surprised at the type of incision that was made.  </B></div> <div> <B>He directed me to a neurosurgeon who preformed nerve conduction studies, and a bone scan which proved beyond  doubt, RSD.</B></div> <div> <B>I was then directed back to my Dr with a script of darvocet that did nothing for my pain at all.</B></div> <div> <B>This continued over the next few months, I had started developing the same burning in the right hand, and was sent to a DR. in Cheyenne, who then diagnosed the spread into the other extremity.</B></div> <div> <B>Sent back to personal Dr again, and not knowing what else or how to procede with it, sent me to another specialist in Denver, Co who has the documentation to prove his knowledge of RSD.</B></div> <div> <B>He ran a pentolomine challenge which had no effect on me. </B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>He sent me back home wiht a list of instructions and meds to try.  Also to have a series of Stellate Gangleon nerve blocks.  These were super for the pain and was not warned on the maximum amount you should have, and I ended up with over a hundred, which resulted in a virtual sympathectomy</B></div> <div> <B>. </B></div> <div> <B>He also explained it had entered my central nervous system,,,,thus total body.  I was so devastated...I could have called Dr. Kevorkian at this time.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>WEll over the last few years, they have basically been trying to keep me as pain free as possible, with over 50 different kinds of meds.  I was in fog for quite some time.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I had an epideral block done which lasted for about a month.  But on the flip side, this Dr did not use a flouroscope,,,,and ofcourse nicked a whole in the epideral lining, causing bacterial menigitis and also a spinal headache which was not an option as it would patch in the infection so I layed here at home sicker than I had been in my life.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I then, having been fed up with the medical profession, stopped all meds  I was on MsContin, Oxycontin, Duragesic Patch, Actiq pain suckers, and morphine sulfate instant release .  I also had been on anti depressants, and paxil.</B></div> <div> <B>I did fine for a month and when the epideral wore off, the pain was not comparable to anything.  I was during this time, also diagnosed with Fibro, MFS, CTD, CFS,,and possible MS.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Well, had to cry uncle and went up for 4 seperate injections of demerol in three days.  She also insisted going back on the Methadone, Actiq, Trazadone and xanax.  I am hoping and praying with all my heart I can stop this when I get myself moved to Georgia to a warmer climate.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I followed my DR's advice and moved to a town about 30 miles north of Atlanta, GA.  I had a very difficult time in locating a DR willing to treat an out of state work comp case.  I found one that turned out to be very uneducated in RSD and again starting searching finding a willing Dr, then ofcoure work comp refuses this and lets the first physician refer me to a DR of his choice.</B></div> <div> <B>Due to the problems I have had associated with getting adequate medical treatment, we are now making plans on moving back to  Wyoming where this nightmare all began.  I wanted to add, this Dr in GA was sending video tapes of me to work comp without my knowledge, he was a total disaster.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In Nebraska, my hometown and just 30 miles from where I lived in Wyoming, I again found solace in the compassionate medical team I had before leaving.</B></div> <div> <B>I finally settled for pennies to just be out under the hand of the work comp agencies where I could live my life in some peace without the constant stress.</B></div> <div> <B> </B></div> <div> <B>On May 13th, 2002 I was given my life back  for a short but wonderful time, thru a Dr Thomas Boylen in Fort Collins Colorado, who did an upper extremity SCS implant.  It was highly successful and although my lower painwas still there, not as prevalent as before.</B></div> <div> <B>I without pain for the first time in 7 years, over did it, things I was warned to not do for some time, like plant my herb garden, my rose bushes, etc.  So without mention, the SCS began to fail, and back into surgery as I had moved the leads.</B></div> <div> <B>On Oct. 17th, 2002 I had the spinal cord stimulator revision done, and hoping again for pain free days.  My spinal cord is swollen and at this time, I am not able to utilize it very well. </B></div> <div> <B>I also suffered from thrombophlebitis, that put a pretty good scare into me.</B></div> <div> <B>On January 2nd, another revision was done to dry out the connections that were not operating correctly and after the surgery the SCS was not working any better than it had prior.</B></div> <div> <B>I found another Dr in Cheyenne, Wyo for another opinion and we are now making plans on removing the SCS And trying the morphine/baclofen pump as soon as the necessary presurgical things are done.</B></div> <div> <B>I returned to my Dr Boylen in Ft. Collins with my feelings on where we should go from here.  We agreed that the removal of the SCS is first off, and that was done on March 24th, 2003.</B></div> <div> <B>I was set up for the trial medication pump on May 15th, 2003.</B></div> <div> <B>One week prior to the trial pump I recieved a lengthy letter from my Dr indicating he had reconsidered and decided NOT to do the pump.</B></div> <div> <B>I made an appt with him to speak face to face, and he explained in detail why he felt this was not for me.</B></div> <div> <B>He said first off, my disease is in its final stages, and that my disease was too diffuse and complicated.  I started having blood clots last October after the first revision and he feels that it will happen again.  He states my immune system is so damaged that I am a high risk candidate for an infection, up to an including menigitis that could cost me my life.</B></div> <div> <B>He said the risks far outweigh the benefits and feels that he cannot do this trial or the pump implant.</B></div> <div> <B>He suggested I get another opinion and that is exactly what I am doing.</B></div> <div> <B>I am on the waiting list at the University of Denver for a time allowable for me to have the trial pump which is basically all that is left, but never ever give up.   Since the initial injury I have seen and been treated by 39 Drs. so I figure there is  another, with another opinion not too far down the road.</B></div> <div> <B>I have a fantastic Licensed Nurse Practioner, whom knows more about RSD than all the so called "professionals" that treated me at Emory University at Atlanta GA.  She is super, her name is Ernie Olson, but I refer to her as  "God" most of the time, her understanding of this disease and pain is unreal.</B></div> <div> <B>So for now, I take the morphine, to keep pain tolerable but not entirely gone and seek some help.</B></div> <div> <B>I have heard the line, "There is no more we can do for you here, so please find someone else."</B></div> <div> <B>It gets very tiring but we have to keep on trying, we can NEVER give up.</B></div> <div> <B>Thanx,,Ducky Duckworth</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="09196640.gif" border=0 width="150" height="100" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="041f4010.gif" border=0 width="500" height="1" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>