2 years ago, I had no idea what this was. I’d heard the word a time or two, but really had NO clue.

Here’s what led up to where I am today.

In 1992, I was in a near-fatal car wreck. Severe head injury, crushed leg, cracked ribs, pelvis bone. I was 19. Now, since I’ve had Osteogenisis Imperfecta (I can’t spell that) the wreck affected me worse. People with OI have weaker bones, musles, joints. Well, I’ve always resented being labeled “disabled”, so I faught back. Within a few months, I was walking, talking, and tried to go back to college, until I realized that I no longer could do math more complex than addition and subtraction.

For over a decade I drifted. I had dreams that came and went, but the depression got worse and was not helped by my disfunctional family. Then, in May of 2000, my best friend was murdered by her husband, along with their 2 little boys. He then killed himself. I sank into a black hole. 4 years later, I met a man online who I’m now engaged to, and moved in with, in 2005. Then, in the spring and summer of 2006, he and I started working for a friend of mine who was a remodeling contractor. The pain of working on houses was excruciating (sorry for the spelling. Spelling is another thing the wreck killed) but I did it anyway, telling myself if I kept at it, I’d get stronger and loose weight. Then, one afternoon when my fiance and I were driving home from working with this guy, we were rear ended at a red light in Logonville, Georgia. I immediatly went into shock. I don’t remember much of anything for the rest of that day. I did not remember my fiance getting me out of the car, having someone examine me to make sure I was OK, etc. After that, I spiraled downwards. Each day, the pain in my body spread. It’s now been a year, and I hurt worse than I did right when it happened. For weeks I had some bizzare urinary problem, feeling like I needed to pee when I didn’t. This has NEVER happened before in my life. It went away as mysteriously as it came. No explanation.

I have NOT been to a doctor. I don’t trust them, and I have a SEVERE phobia about having a doctor, or anyone other than my fiance touch me. (this comes from more than one sexual assalt in my life)

I’m not sure what to do. This thing is so hard to diagnose…and I don’t have the money, or the emotional strength to go to doctor after doctor, in search of the truth.

All I know is… Every day I wake up and don’t want to get out of bed I hurt so bad. If I do more than a little light housework, the pain in my back is unbearable. It’s beginning to settle into my knees, and the joints in my fingers as well. I have trouble sleeping, and depression is a constant companion. Mysterious headaches appear and dissappear at will, along with neck/back aches, and a knife in my hips. (especially the right one) Sometimes my heart races for no reason… and other times I almost fall asleep at the computer. Am I crazy??

Ahhh massage. That is probably the thing that helps me the most. If only I could afford it!

What supplements are you taking? I’m taking a multi, calcium, vit d, vit c, zinc, magnesium, b-complex, acidophilus, and flax oil. I’m also one of those people who refuse pharmaceutical help – too many side effects.

When it’s late spring/summer/early fall I go for walks and if I’m up to it, bike rides. It helps tremendously. I’m stretching nightly now since it’s too cold to be out side and that seems to help a bit.

Good luck!

Hi Lisa,

Right before and then right after I was diagnosed, I found them helpful. Now though, I tend to avoid them as well.. and I am just curious, why do you avoid them? I found the few that I checked out to be overwhelmingly negative. I understand people needing to vent and that seems like a good, safe way to do it, but sometimes it went beyond that. Anyway, just curious.

Thanks
Tracy