What if you lived with chronic pain every day of your life–and not just little “ouchie” pains, but real 8 on a scale of 1 to 10 kind of pain? Kirah DeCarlo can answer that question for you because that’s her reality.
The Apalachin, New York, woman has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) which is also called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD), an incurable neurological disorder that mainly affects a person’s arms and legs.
DeCarlo knows firsthand that living with extreme chronic pain can take a terrible toll on the person suffering, their family members, and caregivers. Her mother, Lillian DeCarlo said, “It’s heartbreaking to watch.”
Despite being in almost constant intense pain, DeCarlo isn’t giving up on her life. These days, she’s wearing orange and speaking up for two reasons:
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November is CRPS Awareness Month
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She hopes that by raising awareness a cure will be found
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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CRPS typically begins in a hand or foot, and then the pain spreads to the rest of the limb. The affected area can be discolored, and sensitive to cold. The level of pain is almost always way out of proportion to the original cause or injury.
DeCarlo’s personal journey with CRPS began 17 years ago and stemmed from a sprained ankle. And, while researchers can’t say with absolute certainty that trauma triggers CRPS, more than 90% of cases diagnosed began with some kind of trauma.
If you would like to download a free informational flyer from RSDHope.org, a non-profit organization for information and help regarding CRPS for patients, families, the medical community, the media, and the general public, click here.
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For more information, or to find help, contact the following organizations:
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