Jane Look
Jane Look
Determination has always been my greatest strength. It's what helped me raise and home-school my son, build my own house, and become a doula (Greek for “mother the mother”) to hundreds of babies and their families. Overall, until 17 years ago, things were pretty normal as I strove to accomplish much in my life.
Then there was the accident. I was hit by a car while walking in a pedestrian crosswalk. What followed were years of pain and intense suffering through surgeries with uncertain results. With my determination to battle it all, despite my medical and financial hardships, I tried to enjoy life. Shockingly, however, shortly after the birth of my second grandchild just over three years ago, I awoke screaming, feeling as if my right leg was on fire. I was rushed to the ER, where emergency spinal surgery was performed. But the diagnosis and treatment were not complete. At that time, no one realized that the accident had also triggered a terrible disease of the nervous system in my body called RSD/CRPS.
The result was that my right leg suffered permanent nerve damage. It will never recover and has only gotten worse. Not only that, RSD has spread through my body, to all my limbs, my hands, neck, shoulders and spine. Now I am mostly confined to a wheelchair. I feel like a prisoner trapped in a searing body. If I had not experienced this pain myself – which, according to the McGill Pain Index is the most painful disease there is, outmatching cancer pain – I couldn't have believed how painful it is.
Because of the disease, I've also lost my ability to earn a living and take care of myself. I've lost my home and have become totally dependent on others.
When you're determined, you try harder. But because the disease went undiagnosed for so many years, it is now in an advanced stage, where the stress of trying harder only increases its spread and suffering. Despite this, I am still determined to beat it.
I am also determined to help people with RSD/CRPS before they get to the advanced stage where I am. After enormous struggles to get at least some degree of pain reduction, I have been fortunate enough to receive some trial/experimental infusions which should be available to all sufferers of the disease. Ketamine seems to provide temporary relief, and the medicine itself costs only pennies. Unfortunately, the administrative costs and red tape are blocking many from receiving it.
I wish to thank RSD Help, Inc., for their work assisting sufferers of this debilitating disease, and hope that their efforts continue to reach more of us.
