Research for CRPS

"Amber Dawn was a beautiful spirit who loved the music of nature and was in tune with the energy that connected it all together.  She loved to dance and would spin in circles with her arms held way out so she could feel the electrical tingle of nature in her fingertips.  One day while dancing, Amber lost her balance and twisted her ankle at an unnatural angle resulting in a broken foot.  She needed surgery, which left her with a cast from her dance moves.  After 4 -6 weeks Amber should have returned to her love of dancing, however she was in for a much larger fight with a life-altering neurological condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). 

The Symptoms of CRPS are very painful.  They include swelling, muscle weakness, burning sensations and changes in skin temperature.  When the cast was removed, Amber was unable to walk or sit comfortably.  She had extreme hypersensitivity, could not wear socks or shoes, showering hurt, and she even slept with no sheets on her leg;  nothing could touch her foot.  It would turn a plum purple when a particularly bad flare up would occur.  She often described it as “a thousand razor blades cutting her” all day, every day.

Amber struggled with this pain that didn’t seem real and that Doctors had a hard time identifying.  Many different forms of treatment were tried but all were unsuccessful in helping her deal with the immense pain.  Finally, an option presented itself from a clinic that was nearby; Ketamine.  This became Amber’s sanity savior treatment.  She would have regular ketamine infusions at the clinic that were very hard on her, but it was much better than the pain.  Eventually, Amber started to use a crutch instead of a wheelchair.  Then a hop across the room instead of the crutch.  Miraculously she started to walk unaided, and she did dance again.  The CRPS was manageable with the treatment and her amazing ability to keep fighting.

Amber was lucky that she was able to move forward with some semblance of comfort from this terrible disease while many do not.  The constant pain can drive some people mad.  Amber was a hardened warrior and there are many others who are on the battlefield fighting this terrible condition.  Please honor Amber and all others with their own fight and give to CRPS in Amber’s name."