Photos Courtesy of Marlene Jackson

CHS Senior Battles CRPS

 

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy is a very painful type of amplified musculoskeletal pain. It often affects a limb, but can cause pain anywhere on the body. This condition is usually developed after an injury. Pain is increased due to the abnormal firing of nerves, which sense pain and control vascular tone, and the amplified pain signal. The affected part of the body can become cold, blue or purple, and swollen due to decreased blood flow.

For Cameron High School Senior Nathan Jackson, symptoms of this condition made themselves known after breaking two bones in his foot during his freshman year. The injury occurred due to excess running and overuse of the foot. A complication with a surgery led to the development of CRPS in Jackon’s foot over the course of a year. Jackson experienced color change, swelling and unwarranted pain, and was diagnosed during his 2-week stay at Mayo Clinic Pain Rehab Center in Rochester, Minnesota.

Prior to his injury and diagnosis, Jackson was active in basketball, swim team, cross country, and track.

“I didn’t think I would ever walk again. I didn’t know if I would, for sure, ever run again.” Jackson said.

Not only did CRPS bring Jackson’s high school sports career to a halt, it hindered nearly every aspect of day-to-day life. The CHS Senior was left unable to walk, wear a shoe, put his foot in water, or have anything touching his foot/leg even after spinal injections, hospitalizations, and other drug treatments.

“I couldn't do anything.” Jackson said.

After a year and a half of not being able to walk, Jackson had developed severe osteopenia and atrophy in his leg. Unsuccessful treatments led to Jackson’s Mayo Clinic doctors referring him to the Rehabilitation for Amplified Pain Syndromes (RAPS) program at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, one of only eight programs in the world. Jackson exceeded the program’s typical 3-4 week duration, staying for 11 weeks in the fall of 2014. Daily treatment included intense physical and occupational therapy, desensitization, and stress management.

Continued therapies, along with being paired with a Children’s Mercy Hospital Physical Therapist, began to make the difference Jackson needed in order to regain his ability to walk and run.

“I didn't like it, but I just had to go through it.” said Jackson. “I did more therapy, and eventually I got enough range of motion back to make [running] possible.”

Jackson was released to run on his own at the end of 2015, and is currently back to running track. He continues his exercises, along with daily therapies, in hopes to someday reduce or eliminate pain.

 

 

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