Carron Clark After being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in my right arm in 2002 I was distraught, despite having to put up with the discomfort of a torn cartilage for 2 years previous to that! I was 15 years old and had already missed out on the start of my GCSEs…

After being diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in my right arm in 2002 I was distraught, despite having to put up with the discomfort of a torn cartilage for 2 years previous to that.

I was 15 years old and had already missed out on the start of my GCSEs - dropping a couple of subjects so I could study for them at home with a home tutor, and also having to give up playing Essex County Netball, Basketball for London Borough Barking and Dagenham, and various Field Events for an Athletics Club.

At the Athletics Club there was talk of me undertaking more training as they saw I had Olympic potential in the Discus and Hammer Throw, but unfortunately no matter how much pacing I do I have accepted that I will never be able to fulfil this dream.

I was pretty lucky that the diagnosis of this condition came soon after my operation as I had the most fantastic Orthopaedic Consultant looking after me. He immediately referred me to a number of specialist hospitals within London, as well as a local Pain Specialist who put me on all kinds of concoctions, but also carried on seeing me every month himself, just to check that I was ok.

During this time, after doing my GCSEs on a laptop in a corridor, I outdone everyone’s expectations and managed to achieve 8 A-C passes with an A* in PE of all subjects! I was even named ‘Pride of the Borough’ and placed on the front page of our local newspaper, much to my embarrassment! My 6th Form was brilliant and paid for me to carry out my A Levels with a Distance Learning company, only coming into school if I needed help with anything and for the social side of things. The teachers would stay behind after school for me, much like in my GCSEs, which is something that will never be forgotten, and I’ll never forget my friends being jealous that my school day started at 3:15pm! After all the conventional treatments had been tried but with no success, it was the Orthopaedic Consultant who suggested that I came to Input.

It was January 2005 when I did my 4 week programme, and without sounding clichéd, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. It seemed a very long 4 weeks at the time and I struggled to get through it, much like every other Input graduate; especially after coming off of all of my medication - something that I have kept up to this day! I took my first trip on an aeroplane with my chronic pain to Rome with my 6th Form friends, and after completing my A levels I decided to apply to university to train to become a Nurse. This was nearly 3 years ago now and in many aspects my life has only improved! I have managed to meet all of life’s milestones that have been thrown at me, i.e. learning to drive, holding down a university degree as well as a variety of jobs, and finally getting engaged to the most understanding person I have ever met! People tell me it is strange to find a man who doesn’t let me do the hoovering as he knows it’ll hurt me!

I still use the techniques I learnt at Input, so much so I feel they are a subconscious thought now rather than an action, and I know that they will stay with me and help me through the many milestones that I have got to come. My thanks go out to the staff at Input for their dedication and sheer hard work, and I hope to repay them with my role within the PPIP committee.

13.Nov.10

Fundraising Members Evening

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