My letter to Dr. Oz

Dr. Oz, I am a Colonel in the USAF who suffered a line of duty injury to my leg in Jul 2008. The bones healed rather quickly but I developed a complication called RSD/CRPS which was diagnostically validated by bone scans, XRAYs, and EMGs. The disease is so debilitating, I've been placed on quarters at home since July 2008 while I await a military medical discharge. RSD not only causes excruciating pain 24/7; 365 days a year, but severe edema. I get the edema whenever my leg is lowered more than a few minutes. The RSD tricks my brain into thinking I have a brand new fractured leg and the body's defenses rush to protect the area causing pain and swelling. When this happens, it feels like a BRAND NEW BROKEN LEG, over and over again. This edema resulted in blood clots traveling through my heart and ended up in my lungs causing pulmonary embolisms. I almost died and was rushed to the emergency room with a collapsed lung spending one week in intensive care. People are dying from this disease who don't know it, and those that have it need to know about the life-threatening complications so they can be immediately examined. I was just discharged from intensive care so I could be with my family over the holidays. I have a series of pictures since 2008 showing the RSD progression leading to the pulmonary embolisms. Also, family and friends of RSD sufferers need to know about this and people need to understand that RSD is real and not an imagined illness. The pain caused by RSD is among the highest on the McGill Pain Index, higher than migraines or childbirth, yet most people have never heard of it and some suffer through it with no visible symptoms leading people to believe it's in their head. Dr. Oz, if you could do a show on RSD, not only would it save lives, but it would help get the word out about this COMMON, but unknown illness. I would be happy to make an appearance in my full Colonel's uniform if it would help drive home the point that this disease should be taken very seriously. Oddly enough, I've already been processed by a military physical evaluation board, and I received no disability rating for the RSD which is based on the Veteran's Affairs rating tables. Once I'm discharged and entitled to VA benefits, I will not be entitled for any VA disability for the RSD either. It's not included on the VA's schedule of disability ratings even though hundreds of troops are now coming back with the RSD diagnoses. They will be returned home in excruciating pain, with no RSD disability rating or benefits. A public broadcast such as this could help change that too. Thanks for all you do, your program should be mandatory viewing for people of all ages.

last month
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  • Sabino

    Hi Doug, I really appreciated it all that you are doing in getting the word out about RSD/CRPS.

    If you need any assistance when you go to the Formal Physical Board let me know and I let you use a copy of my VHS tape when I went through my FPB because they try very hard to convince us that everything is in our head. Also do not sign anything if they tell you that the VA will take care of you because if you do that you will lost the right to a retiree card and its very important for you and your family to get the blue card. I wish I could explain more in here because I get a lot of anxiety and feel like I'm going through the experience again even tho it happened to me almost 20 years ago. I live it like its happening now to me. Good luck to you Sir, Sabino 

    3 weeks ago.

  • Tanya

    Doug that is a great letter! (although I am sorry for all that you have been going through).  I hope you get a response from Dr Oz!

    last month

  • Milly

    Oh I hope he does! keep us posted!!
    RSD awareness needs to be spread!

    last month

  • DIANE

    Hi Doug,



    Sorry for your RSD. Hope your letter gets Dr Oz's attention. It seems no one knows about RSD until you get it, or a family or friend has it. It would be great if the doctor does a show.



    diane

    last month

  • Shay

    Thank you for writing the letter and being willing to speak about RSD and how the VA is not recognizing it on the schedule of disability ratings.  This is a problem with not just the VA, but civilian insurance, social security disability, and workmen's comp.  This syndrome needs to be recognized, diagnosed, and treated early to give the patient the chance at reversal or at least limiting its devastating effects.  Hope you get a positive response from Dr. Oz.

    last month

  • Joanne

     My thanks to you also. Not much $ on research for this either since it is not recognized by so many physicians  all over the country.  Dr Oz could contact Art, Dr C, and Jim Broatch to discuss this on a show. It needs so badly to be brought to the attention of  medical, insurance, VA , and other categories of people.  Joanne

    last month

  • fluffy

    dear doug....first thank you for the service you gave to our country.your letter to dr oz was awesome and well written..i pray you get some attention brought to this illness..for all of us and every solider who has fought for our right to live in a free country.no veteran should have to go through what many are now.nor should any of us..my blessings as you fight this new personal battle with rsd...you are quite a solider...and always will be..fluffy

    last month

  • Rosemary

    Thanks, Doug!  Proud of you for defending our freedom.  Sympathize with you on the CRPS and the pulmonary embolisms.  Just suffered 2x since Christmas.... Thanks for helping lead the CRPS community to fight this new battlefront we face--public awareness and medical acknowledgment.

    last month

  • Felechia

    Thanks Doug for sharing, and serving your country, and protecting my freedom, and peace, and happiness, with God's help; i too was goin to send a letter to Dr. Oz,and the Doctors show, because i am sooo sick and tired to seeing shows about people abusing drugs, and that we have to almost give a arm, leg, and head just to get treatment for pain management; because not everyone who takes narcotics become addicts.....; keep on keeping on my brother, and bless you....shree

    last month

  • Stacey Ann

    Dear Doug,



    First, I personally want to thank you for serving our great country. I've tried in the past to contact Dr. Oz myself, but I believe he'll respond to you that after reading your letter that you wrote. You can speak volumes for the rest of us. Use what ever forum will listen. Keep up the fight, and know your not alone. We here, (suffers of RSD, family and friends ) stand beside you. 



    Lots of love, hugs and prayers to you,



    Stacey

    4 weeks ago.

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