The Story of Candice!

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
is a chronic progressive syndrome characterized by severe pain, swelling, and changes in the skin. There is no cure.
The International Association for the Study of Pain has divided CRPS into two types based on the presence of nerve lesion following the injury.
Type I, formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), does not have demonstrable nerve lesions.


Cause of this condition:
The cause of this syndrome is currently unknown. Precipitating factors include injury and surgery, although there are documented cases that have no demonstrable injury to the original site.
(My foot injuries this summer precipitated this syndrome.)


Symptoms:
The symptoms of CRPS usually manifest near the site of an injury, either major or minor. The most common symptoms overall are burning and electrical sensations, described to be like "shooting pain." The patient may also experience muscle spasms, local swelling, abnormally increased sweating, changes to skin temperature and color, softening and thinning of bones, joint tenderness or stiffness, restricted or painful movement.
The pain of CRPS is continuous and may be heightened by emotional or physical stress. Moving or touching the limb is often intolerable. The symptoms of CRPS vary in severity and duration.


What treatments is Candice undertaking and what is the outlook?
*My mom and I spent a month in Chicago at a top notch rehabilitation facility in order to stop the damage as early as possible and stayed at the Ronald McDonald House.
*We are working with physical therapists and occupational therapists to get a schedule that will work for us.
*There is all sort of outcomes. Right now my pain is an 8 out of 10. There are people in pain, people in remission. We want the best outcome, obviously, which would be remission. Right now we don't know when I will be back in school.


What can I do to help?
Right now you can pray for my recovery.
You can send me humorous notes on text messaging.
You can keep a positive outlook for me.


What can I not do?
Currently, please do not be upset as I do not wish to talk about my condition. It is a trial which I know I can work through but it is too hard to discuss right now.

Thanks for all your love and support!