Before our Job Quitting Boat Living journey began, our lives were changed forever by a simple accident. My lovely wife Kim suffered a minor injury while on the job. She was in some pain, but there was nothing that would make anyone think the long term consequences would be bad. 

  Time passed and the pain got worse. Doctors scratched their heads. More tests! More doctors, X-rays, MRIs, EMGs, etc. The pain grew steadily worse. Eventually, it was discovered that Kim was suffering from RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). The key to curing RSD is to diagnose and treat it very early. We missed out on that window. The long term prognosis for late stage treatment is not good. Essentially, the nerves are still passing along a pain signal to the brain, even though the original injury has healed. The pathway of pain is stuck in the ON position. 

  We were introduced to the world of pain management. Narcotics, among other drugs, were prescribed heavily. Kim’s quality of life plummeted. Her pain multipied many times over. She exhibited all the so called classic symptoms of RSD.

• Continuous burning or throbbing pain, usually in your arm, leg, hand or foot
• Sensitivity to touch or cold
• Swelling of the painful area
• Changes in skin temperature — at times your skin may be sweaty; at other times it may be cold
• Changes in skin color, which can range from white and mottled to red or blue
• Changes in skin texture, which may become tender, thin or shiny in the affected area
• Changes in hair and nail growth
• Joint stiffness, swelling and damage
• Muscle spasms, weakness and loss (atrophy)
• Decreased ability to move the affected body part

 

  My lovely wife was now a helpless crippled shell of her former self. To shorten this tale tremendously, She’s doing better now. After 5 years of unbearable pain, some near death experiences and scores of doctors, tests, treatments, drugs, spinal injections, epidurals . . .  She has finally started to lead a normal life. Guess what? The doctors didn’t fix her. Nope, they didn’t do anything to make her well. 

It became a case of not what they were doing for her, but rather what they were doing to her. I’ve decided to write a book, in honor of the lovely MIss Kim and all those who’ve suffered with RSD or similar chronic pain syndromes. I want to show how modern medicine was killing my wife. 

 

  How did we get off the drug merry-go-round and start down the path to actual healing? I’m saving that for the book., but you may be surprised as to how Kim cured herself with NO doctor’s input. I can’t wait to start putting her story into words. As her caregiver for those difficult years, I’m the only one who knows exactly the depth of her pain, her fears and frustrations. I’m also the only one who knows just how brave and determined she really is. 

  I love my wife. After you read her story, you’ll love her too.