The Pain of RSD A Poem By: J.L. Jacobs ©2007

RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) is a very rare disease that attacks your central nervous system. It's the most painful form of chronic pain that exists. I battle this incurable disease daily.

My body is on fire

from the inside out.

There's nothing that helps,

and I just wanna shout!

The pain is so intense,

and the fire feels so real.

I am just left here 

to cope with it and deal.

I want to use ice

because the pain burns so hot.

But ice makes it worse,

so use ice I cannot!

So I tried a fan

using a cool gentle breeze,

but that remedy caused more pain,

can you even believe?

My docs prescribe meds

and help me they do not.

The pain is still there,

and it burns so hot!

Why must I suffer

and be in such pain?

Where are my friends,

there's few who remain.

I am so abnormal,

and it's hard to live this way.

I wish for a normal life,

and a freaking pain-free day.

I took much for granted,

back when I was normal.

I reminisce about my life back then,

when I felt I was immortal.

But this disease has opened my eyes

to the horrors it inflicts,

I just want some relief from the pain,

and to not feel so imperfect.

Why must I suffer?

Why must I pray?

The depression, pain and anxiety,

rules me each and every day.

This life long disease,

for which there is no cure.

A slight chance of remission,

but for most that's so obscure.

Even now typing this,

my pain is so intense.

I want to cry and just give up,

but writing is my defense.

It's through my words I battle

this disease called RSD.

It might have me it's it grasp,

but it won't get all of me!

My mind is a place

where this disease wishes to go,

so I use my words as weapons,

when my pain reaches it's plateau.

And to the burning pain,

a pain that is so hot.

RSD might want to control my body,

but have my mind it will not!

To all you pain warriors,

who also face this burden,

I pray for you all 

of that you can be certain!

Reviews

[B J Hughes]

Massively epic, vividly descriptive and perfectly presented! OMG! My heart goes out to you JL. Try as I might, I cannot wrap my mind around this condition, trying to imagine how it be to experience this on a daily basis (it's been my plight as an empath). May a great calming peace find you and be a great comfort to you in dealing with your RSD. PEACE!!! Too bad I couldn't give this 200/100.

[Wolfwind Words]

I think anyone who's got any kind of empathy, can and would relate to this poem. For everyone, even those that don't know it, have had to deal with pain in their lives. Be it the pain of the flesh or that of the heart or soul.
I like how your poem takes the rollarcoaster approach. It takes the reader down into the depths of the anguish and frustration. It hits rock bottom in stanza 7, where a person questions their own reality, normal, not normal...abnormal...not abnormal. That mental anguish mixed in with the physical can drive someone to the brink.
Then the poem begins to climb. It battles it's whay from the depths. The pain, while ever-present, like a tombstone of fallen child, does not win. The last two stanzas close the piece well, with a raising of the fist of will power and strength, hope and compassion.

Powerful ink you've got here.
Aaron

[JL Jacobs]

Wow, that review was remarkably written! When I am not so super busy, I need to check out your work! TYVM for such a wonderful review. It's easy to hide the pain we're in but not so easy to share it with the world.

[Coyote Poetry]

I had stress attacks years ago. They almost killed me.
"Why must I suffer?
Why must I pray?
The depression, pain and anxiety,
rules me each and every day."
The above pain must be terrible. I do know some herbal cures. I was taught by Ojibwa Grandmother help for pain. I hope you feeling better and thank you for sharing your amazing poetry dear Poet.
Coyote

[N.Blue]

This poem is very restoring . This can help encourage someone that needs strong thoughts of motivation .

[JL Jacobs]

Thank you :D