""Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a curious beast. It's not very well known and is incredibly rare and difficult to treat. A person in one of my support groups once asked everyone, """"What was your trigger? How did CRPS become a part of your daily struggle? """"
Answers varied from an injured limb to various surgeries, and even after a tattoo in one case. Some arose as a result of simple accidents around the home.
My triggering event happened due to the most mundane of everyday activities. I opened a door at work. As I pulled the handle towards myself, a heavy gust of wind blew it almost shut. The shock of the slam that would have happened if I had not been grasping the handle went through my wrist - and tore the delicate cartilage around the joints that provided balance to my hand. The official injury title that was bestowed upon me was a triangular fibro cartilage complex tear in two places. The pain I experienced was immediately disproportionate to the injury itself. The only silver lining at the time was that my injury occurred at work - making me eligible for worker's compensation. Mercifully so, the universe decided to provide a small quantum of solace in the form of continued financial support from my wages, and my medical expenses were covered completely. Because of this small miracle, I have access to the best medical care money can buy - for now. Eventually, I would be on my own, as the money available ran out. Until then, I had more support than most, for which I am incredibly thankful.
Truth be told, it's nearly impossible to know exactly why myself and my fellow sufferers contracted CRPS. The triggers can be a result of almost anything - even an innocent paper cut. Because there's no smoking gun, and many physical symptoms don't show until the condition has well and truly taken hold, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is incredibly difficult to diagnose. I was lucky. My symptoms were severe enough in the initial stages that my medical team was able to quickly identify the cause of my pain. Because of its early detection, I am in the best possible position to respond well to treatment. Many people are not so fortunate.
Advanced cases of CRPS can lead to permanent disfigurement of affected limbs, muscular atrophy, loss of bone density, and even organ failure. The condition has the potential to spread to seemingly unrelated areas of the body (the opposite limb in my case - both arms are now affected from shoulder to fingertips) with the potential to go full body from the slightest future mishap or surgery. We are cotton wool people. We are forced to live in a bubble of our own design, for self-preservation.
This is not a tale of woe, or even of caution. The odds of what happened to me and my fellow sufferers happening to someone else are astronomical. I'm simply trying to raise awareness for a very rare condition. On the McGill Pain Scale we sit right at the top with a score of 42, above amputation, unplanned childbirth, and phantom limb pain, and until advanced enough to offer little hope for remission - our pain is completely invisible.""