I received this inspirational email about our upcoming pain charity bike ride from Jeanne Michelle, someone who has CRPS (also called RSD – a painful neurological condition).  With her permission, I wanted to share it with you, to inspire you to participate in our Philadelphia charity bike ride.

Jeanne Michelle writes,

“My experience living with pain has been a 13 year uphill battle.  That’s probably why I like to ride!  Something about when you make it up to the top of the hill that makes you feel so alive.  As much as your nerves are burning, you feel free.  That hill is another day you’ve made it through another obstacle, another flare, another “Why can’t I have my old life back?”

Hi.  My name is Jeanne Michelle and I’m a survivor of CRPS – for 13 years!  I’m so excited to see that you’re having a bike ride.  My husband, my biggest supporter, and I  just participated in the 28th Annual Prouty Bike Ride in NH. The ride was to benefit cancer research. I’m pleased to say with the encouragement from my husband and my brother, I completed 25 miles.  It was painful, but then again, when is my day not?

I live my life taking chances.  I push my body to the limit.  I feel that I lost 3 years of my life when I was taking morphine, but I was still in as much pain as I’m in now.  I have too much more living to do.

I developed RSD in my right foot in 1996, and this went undiagnosed for over a year.  By that time, it had spread to both legs and my lower back.  I also feel it in my arms and sometimes my face.  The first set of pain management team doctors told me, the former jock, that I’d be in a wheelchair by the age of 30.  Instead, I limped out and never looked back.  Now at the age of 38, I continue to push my body to the limit, without that wheelchair they were so willing to concede me to.

I’d like to put out information about your ride in my store.  (Working in my store is a struggle, but it keeps me focused.)  My husband and I are going to ride with you this year, and I would also like to display information in my store to educate others about RSD.

In my life, I must only look forward.  And yes, many days it looks bleak when you’re in so much pain.  But I often think, “It’s a journey, one must take it.  Enjoy what you can and who you can around you.  Take it all in.”

Thanks to Jeanne Michelle for her positive thoughts.  Click on this link for more information about the 2nd Annual Philly Bike Ride for Pain Relief.  We hope you can participate by riding or by donating.