Rare Disease Day Awareness

If I say to someone I've got CRPS, I can almost guarantee that the response will be something a long the lines of, what is that?  

Imagine saying that to a doctor and getting the same response and every time having to explain yourself. It gets a bit tiring and can sometimes make you feel quite negative.

Which is why I want to do something positive and try and change that response.

I was lucky and my symptoms were picked up quickly and all other conditions ruled out efficiently. But this isn't the case for many and needs to be changed, so that people can access treatments they need to reduce the pain and possibly prevent long-term or permanent disability.

The medical world may not know the condition in enough detail or have a cure, but that doesn't mean that it shouldn't be a recognised condition.

Please take a look at the poster above, its all there. If someone says they suffer from CRPS just think about those symptoms, they may be smiling and happy at the time but this is what they have to put up with everyday.  Ask them how their week has been, show a bit of interest in their condition.

Just remember it may be invisible, but it doesn't mean its not there.