A student requested doctors to amputate her arm after a dog bite left her in excruciating pain for years. Now, she says she couldn't be happier now that she's had the procedure.
BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 14: The arm of a mannequin named Frau Schmidt, used as a model patient during an elderly care training program at the Edith Stein Catholic vocational training center, lies on a bed where it has been placed so that the model itself can be used as an amputee, on May 14, 2014, in Berlin, Germany. The supply of caregivers for the elderly in Germany has not met the demand, as an aging population finds itself in need of qualified nurses. According to one study, estimates hold that there will be a shortage of up to 152,000 caregivers by the year 2025. Due to low fertility rates and increased longevity, the elderly population of the country is predicted to increase from 7% of the total population in the previous century to over 10% by the year 2020.
Keira Forsythe, 23, broke her wrist while walking her dog in 2012 when her whippet chased a squirrel. Her arm was caught in a retractable lead's plastic handle.
She developed a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) developed as a result of the accident.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CRPS is a rare chronic pain disorder that causes excruciating pain.
Keira, from Wrexham, Wales, begged doctors to cut her arm because of the unbearable pain.
How Keira Got The CRPS?
Forsythe told Metro.co.uk her wrist was through the plastic handle as she walked her dog, allowing her to text on her phone.
She then saw a squirrel, which her dog chased. She then passed out.
"When I came round, my dog was gone, and [I broke my wrist]," she said.
She then had a cast like any other person. However, her agony started when doctors removed the cast. She said she could partially move her arm, but she "couldn't feel a thing."
Keira said she once burned her arm on the stove but didn't feel anything. Her arm remained numb for 18 months until she awoke one morning to find that something had returned, and she could feel her bedsheets.
She expressed her delight at regaining sensation in my arm after such a long time. Keira was able to return to Taekwondo and continue playing sports.
However, during one of her sessions, she was in excruciating pain and collapsed to the floor after blocking a punch. She said she was experiencing pins and needles in my shoulder.
She tried every medical option available to her, including spinal cord stimulator surgery, in March 2016. But it was in vain.
She requested an amputation when she was 17, but doctors denied her request because the arm tissue was medically safe.
Keira tried to smile and bear it, but the next four years were a living nightmare for her. She had to give up her interests, and even simple tasks were difficult for her.
She felt as if the lighter fluid was being injected into her bloodstream, igniting a burning sensation accompanied by stabbing pains.
ALSO READ: Women's Physical Pain Is Not Taken Seriously, Study Says
She said that there is no cure for CRPS and that even morphine wasn't helping.
Keira's sleeping patterns were all over the place, as she could only get about two hours of sleep every night due to the pain that kept her awake.
She said even raindrops, clothing, or her finger touching each other would cause horrendous pain.
Forsythe forced herself to smile and bear simple tasks such as getting ready and washing her hands.
However, she would often end up crying because of the pain.
Did Keira Find Another Doctor To Cure CRPS?
In March of this year, she finally found a hospital willing to amputate her limb. Keira was so ecstatic that she threw a 'coming off' party for her arm to commemorate the occasion.
Her doctors predicted that the surgery would minimize pain causes and a 25% reduction in pain.
Keira mentioned that even lowering the triggers would be a positive outcome for her. She hoped to get an extra hour of sleep.
She went on to say that while the process was naturally an emotional time for my family as we approached the amputation, I was overjoyed.
She awoke without pain after the procedure, which was unexpected. Since then, the hasn't returned. Keira said she couldn't be happier, although amputation isn't for everybody.
Keira now works as a disability ambassador and motivational speaker, visiting local schools and businesses. She aspires to compete in the Paralympics.
Business Standard said athletes with a variety of disabilities compete in the Paralympics, an international multi-sport event. The event is held every two years, almost immediately after the Olympic Games.
You Think You Have CRPS? Here's What To Do
Experts said there is no single diagnostic method for CRPS. Physicians diagnose this disease based on the patient's medical history, clinical review, and laboratory results. Before considering CRPS, doctors must rule out any other conditions that could cause the same level of pain and dysfunction.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to diagnosing CRPS. It may be CRPS if the pain is getting worse, not better, and more intense than expected from the initial injury. Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association (RSDSA) shared a list of signs and symptoms here.
The best chance for successful care and possible reversal of CRPS/RSD is early diagnosis and prompt treatment.
RELATED ARTICLE: Chronic Pain 101: Should I Exercise Instead of Taking Analgesics?
Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health on Science Times.