A mystery syndrome has been found which causes excruciating pain that is far worse than childbirth and amputation among patients, according to the Daily Mail.
This condition, also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) causes debilitating pain that does not go away upon waking up in the morning. It typically affects the arms, legs, hands or feet and sometimes occurs after an injury or minor bruise but oftentimes appears without any identified trauma.
A 21-year old patient, Alexandra Annaloro, was struck by the condition in her right leg which resulted to her not being able to walk for longer than 10 minutes. Sometimes, the pain becomes far worse resulting to her legs shaking uncontrollably. "There are days that I cry a lot," she told CBS. Although difficult to diagnose, doctors know that CPRS is a condition that affects the nervous system as it sends signals constant pain signals to the brain.
Patients suffering from CPRS describe their pain score at 42 out of 50, which is relatively high, based on the McGill Pain Index that doctors use to measure their pain levels. This score is much higher than the kind of pain patients experience for childbirth and amputation. CPRS can be acquired by anyone, anywhere and at any given time. Children aged two and above have also been diagnosed with this condition.
As of late, several treatments are being used with varying levels of success. This includes intramuscular Botox injections, spinal cord stimulators, hypnosis and other forms of psychotherapy. Dr. Sudhir Diwan, a pain management specialist called labeled CPRS as a mysterious type of disease because it does not have any clear cause, thus, making it even more difficult to diagnose. "We call it cross-talking of the nerves," he said.
