About Alessa

My name is Alessa Abruzzo and I'm 22 years old. I have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Although doctors don't know why someone develops RSD, it is a progressive disease of the autonomic nervous system that can follow a fall, sprain, fracture, surgery, or a period of immobilization. Just stubbing a toe can set it off.

I was looking forward to a very promising future prior to getting RSD. I graduated in 2004 from Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration High School, and was accepted into Temple University's honors program. I was active in church and was a Girl Scout. I played the violin and participated in school plays. I was a writer and editor for my school newspaper. I loved to read, draw, and take care of my vast collection of reptiles. I also liked to garden, sew, and cook.

I hurt my right arm in 1998 at age 11. That was most likely the beginning of the RSD. However, I was still able to live a pretty normal life until I was 17. At that time, in October 2003, I went for allergy testing. The scratch test set the RSD off throughout my whole body. I was officially diagnosed with RSD on March 8, 2004 by Dr. Robert Schwartzman, Professor and Chairman of Drexel University College of Medicine, Drexel Neurological Associates, Department of Neurology. By April 2005, I could no longer walk and began using a wheelchair. I became bedridden in March 2007.

I looked healthy, but I suffered unbearable, unbelievable, and unrelenting pain. My skin would swell, sweat, change colors and change temperature. I hurt at the slightest touch. It was difficult for me to sleep. Sometimes I would have difficulty in moving and my body would shake or spasm.

At this time, there is no cure for RSD/CRPS. There are millions of people across the United States with this disease. It is ranked as the most painful form of chronic pain that exists today. (Check out www.rsdhope.org and www.rsds.org for more information.)

Dr. Schwartzman sent me to Germany in March 2008 to be put in the ketamine coma. He only sends the most advanced cases. The procedure is not available here. It's very risky, but it was my only chance of regaining a normal life. It's like rebooting a computer. My system was shut down for the duration of the coma and then turned back on. The goal was for me to wake up without pain. It worked!

I returned home on May 9, 2008 after a very successful hospital stay in Saarbruecken, Germany. I can walk again and I'm still pain free!

I've been going for ketamine boosters at Dr. Schwartzman's infusion suite to help keep the RSD away. I go for two days at a time for four hours each day to receive the ketamine through an I.V. line. I went for two sessions in June and one session in July. The last set of boosters should be in October. If I'm still pain free after that, I'll be considered to be in remission.

I have to be careful. Doing too much, too soon can bring back the RSD.

Thank you to everyone for your very generous donations, prayers and good wishes. Your support, both financially and emotionally, has helped me to have a second chance at life.

Please continue to pray for me and for all those suffering with RSD.

Sincerely,

Alessa Abruzzo