Health Care

In 1998 I was in a car accident and my patella (knee cap) split in half. All of the nerve endings beneath the patella split and as the fracture healed new nerve endings spawned causing a permanent nervous system disorder called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) which is now being called Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome.

In general terms, my knee keeps telling my brain that there is an injury there, even though the fracture has healed. I am in "remission" now but since 1998 I was put on over 40 different medications for pain, I tried bio-feedback, and every two weeks was going to the hospital for lumbar, sympathetic blocks. I had a lot of car insurance and every doctor wanted "a piece of me." Within five years or so, my hospital bills totaled over 300,oo0 which were at my insurance limits, and amazingly the doctors then began to feel that there was nothing more they could do for me. I had been going to physical therapy 3 times a week but my co-pays were going up to $50. per visit so I decided to 1. get off all medications and 2. join a gym.

Since then, I have felt a lot better. I hardly walk with a limp and aside from a few rough days here and there I am more active then I have been in a long time.

The health care ystem made me feel like a guinea pig and they made me think that a little pill would solve all my problems. I am so glad I took the initiative to get off all the meds and take control of my life.