Collection: CRPS Awareness

CRPS stands for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which is a chronic, debilitating pain disorder. CRPS usually develops in a limb after a physical injury or other physical trauma. Someone with CRPS will experience constant, relentless pain with a varying combination of additional symptoms different for each sufferer. While CRPS may be triggered in one part of the body, it can spread to other areas or the full body. The cause of CRPS is unknown. It is not limited to age or gender and is not connected with any other medical conditions.

Katie Charles experienced a physical injury to her left leg when she was in high school. Within weeks, she was unable to walk and had to get through her day in a wheelchair. It took months to obtain the diagnosis of CRPS. With time, she eventually was able to get around with crutches, then a cane. As an adult, she uses her cane when needed but the pain is constant. 

When she first was given the diagnosis, information was hard to find. Awareness has grown, and treatments are being developed, but there is no cure. 

Katie’s book “The Hand You’re Dealt” was her personal way of processing her disorder with the hope of educating others on this invisible disease. Many of the struggles Lori experiences were struggles Katie faced, such as not being believed and being accused of faking her pain for attention. She has a service dog who can alert her of a flare before it happens, and she was accused of lying about the dog’s service. She heard tone-deaf comments like “You’re too young to be disabled.”

People with disabilities deserve to be seen, deserve to be heard, and deserve to be believed. 

You can learn more about CRPS and CRPS research at CRPS Warriors Foundation.