RSDSA :: youth

Elise's Story
By Christine Robinson

I want to share a story of Hope. My 17-year-old daughter, Elise, had ankle surgery in November 2005. She was a gymnast, dancer, and sports aerobics competitor. She was in constant pain and was finally diagnosed with CRPS in August 2006. She was on crutches for 5 months and had to learn to weight bear and walk again through physical therapy. She tried antidepressants (Endep^®), epileptic medication (Lyrica^®), four spinal blocks, and a low-dose Ketamine infusion over 5 days, with no respite from the pain. I then got her into a pain management clinic at the Children's Hospital here in Melbourne Australia and she has not looked back. It took a few months but she began coping better with daily functioning and has returned to school aerobics with amazing results. She is still in pain, but works through it, controls it, and this weekend she reached the Australian finals. She is so focused, she had a goal and was determined to reach it. We are so proud of her. She has not let CRPS beat her. All this while completing her final year of secondary school. It is possible to regain your life with the right support and advice.