7 years ago I had an operation on my left foot to correct 4 hammer toes. Since then I have been in cronic pain. I have had 6 surgeries in total. 5 on my foot and 1 on my abdomen. I am in pain all of the time. I used to be an athlete. I ran, cycled, climbed, hiked, played tennis....basically my life was very active. I was also training to compete in triathlons. I worked full time as a Nurse, and life was great. In April 2019 after being diagnosed with CRPS (chronic regional pain syndrome) which is also known as 'suicide disease', I opted to have a left below knee amputation, in an attempt to rid me of the excrutiating pain which I suffered. No medications help and there is no known treament. This was my chance of getting my life back and essentially a new foot, to rid of the cause of so much pain that i couldnt sleep, work, socialise, or live. Unfortunately within a month the CRPS returned in my stump. I am now in as much pain as before. I use a wheelchair to get about, but the uneven streets make this a bit tricky and unsafe at times to be fully independant, and so im trying to raise £400 for a freewheel which attaches to my wheelchair, and will help me with this.
If I am ever to walk again without alot of pain, I have little options. Above knee amputation or Osseointegration, where a steel rod is placed within my bone (as they do with animals on supervet). Unfortunately this is not available on the nhs and has a considerable cost of £80'000. If I were to have the surgery I could have the chance of walking again, without pain. I could have an almost normal life. I could hike and ride my bike, and even return to work as a nhs registered Nurse. Both of these options would help transform my quality of life, one in the short term and one in the long. If you are able, please help if you can. Every little penny counts. Thankyou so much for reading my story.