We are starting our newest support group in Mound on Saturday, November 4 from 11 am until 1:00 pm. We would appreciate it if you would put a notification in your newspaper letting people know of this group.

The West group meets every first Saturday of the month from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm:

Westonka Public Library
2079 Commerce Blvd.,
Mound, MN 55364
11:00 - 1:00 PM
Facilitators: Niki (lives in Mound) and Paulene (lives in New Hope)
email: facilitators@rsdsmn.org

We are a nonprofit 501c3 organization with support groups in Mound, Savage, Brooklyn Center, Oakdale, and Duluth. We will be adding groups in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Brainerd this year.

More and more people are becoming diagnosed with RSD or were misdiagnosed. Minnesota deserves a strong voice to get the message out on this disease. It is the most painful chronic pain disease there is. I have had people call me in tears because they thought they were the only ones in the area with RSD or thought they were losing their minds until they received their diagnosis.

There are several people in Mound and the surrounding areas that are members, but we are concerned about those that do not know we are here. People often feel alone with this disease and a support group is empowering. We work together on issues such as being a victim or a survivor of RSD, family and friend issues, etc.

RSD/CRPS is considered the most painful, chronic pain that exists, yet many go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. If you would consider posting a notice of this new group in your paper it would be appreciated.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Bonnie Ueland-Scherer
Founder and Executive Director
MN RSDS/CRPS Coalition
www.rsdsmn.org

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Twin City Support Group Meetings

The west group meets every first Saturday of the month from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm:
Westonka Public Library
2079 Commerce Blvd.,
Mound, MN 55364
11:00 - 1:00 PM
Facilitators: Niki (lives in Mound) and Paulene (lives in New Hope)
email: facilitators@rsdsmn.org

The north group meets every second Saturday of the month:
Lutheran Church of the Master
1200 69th Ave N
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Facilitator: Linda (lives in Brooklyn Park)
email: facilitators@rsdsmn.org

The south group meets every 4th Saturday of the month:
Savage Public Library
13090 Alabama Avenue
Savage, MN 55378
Facilitator: Bonnie (lives in Prior Lake)
email: RSDSMN@aol.com
or facilitators@rsdsmn.org

The east group meets the 3rd Saturday of each month from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm
Cornerstone
3000 Hadley Ave
Oakdale MN. 55128
Facilitator: Kristi (lives in Oakdale)
email: facilitators@rsdsmn.org

Call Bonnie Ueland-Scherer at 952-447-4930 or 952-457-7586
Website: www.rsdsmn.org

Our goal for this group is to provide a platform in which people can support one another in a positive environment by sharing coping strategies for the severe pain associated with RSD, ideas on mobility, family and loved ones, depression, flare-ups and the many other issues associated with RSD. Beverages will be served.

The following is an explanation on RSD from our web site:
Millions of people in the United States may suffer from this chronic pain syndrome. RSD/CRPS affects both men and women, but is more common in women, and can occur at any age, but usually affects people between 40 and 60 years old.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes reports that 2% to 5% of peripheral nerve injury patients and 12% to 21% of patients with Hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) develop reflex sympathetic dystrophy as a complication. The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association of America (RSDSA) reports the condition appears after 1% to 2% of bone fractures. www.rsdsa.org

Reflex Sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, is known by many names. These include Causalgia, Sudeck's atrophy, shoulder-hand syndrome and regional complex pain syndrome
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/CRPS, is a chronic progressive neurological condition that affects skin, muscles, joints, and bones. The syndrome usually develops in an injured limb, such as a broken leg or any minor, ostensibly insignificant injuries, such as a sprain or a stubbed toe. And in some cases, no precipitating incident is known.

RSD Signs and Symptoms:
The pain has been described as burning, shooting, stabbing, and aching. It is common to feel as if being cut with a knife when the there is a breeze or the dog wags their tail. Bed sheets can be painful and oftentimes people must wear shorts, short sleeved tops, and/or sandals year round. Over time symptoms can change, become worse or better and sometimes spread to other areas apart from the original injury.

• Severe, unrelenting chronic pain.
• Burning pain
• Extreme sensitivity to touch, light, sound and/or crowds
• Skin color changes (red or bluish)
• Pain is usually disproportionate to the degree of injury and can be triggered by using the affected limb or by stress and can be spontaneous or constant.
• Muscle spasms and tremors
• Myocolonic jerks
• Inflammation
• Depression
• Trouble concentrating/ cognitive difficulties
• Immune system problems
• Joint pain
• Weakness
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue/sleep problems
• Atrophy may occur because of reduced function of the limb
• It is believed that RSD/CRPS can affect absence or abnormal menstrual cycle
• Cardiac complications due to the constant strain on the heart from the pain

Because of PSA’s and newspaper articles, our organization is growing very quickly. We have 12 children with RSD as members and over 250 adults throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin.

RSD is considered the most painful chronic pain disease there is. It can be caused by twisting your ankle, spraining your wrist, stubbing your toe, surgery…any traumatic event no matter how minimal at the time. It feels as if knives are cutting through your skin when a slight breeze or a bed sheet touches the area with RSD. Your bones feel as if they are on fire and it burns all the way to your skin. I have had many people call me in tears. They have been diagnosed wrong or thought they were the only ones in the area with this disease. It is imperative we continue to get the word out. If diagnosed early enough, there is a chance of remission. Thank you for taking the time to read this.