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 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.

I completed my senior year of school with homebound tutoring. I graduated from Julia R. Masterman High School in June 2004. I was accepted into Temple University's Honors Program, but I had to decline because my RSD was getting worse. 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 completed the protocol of outpatient ketamine boosters at Dr. Schwartzman's infusion suite in Philadelphia. Each set of boosters is through an I.V. line for four hours a day over a two day period. I went for two sets in June 2008, one set in July 2008, one set in October 2008 and one three hour set in January 2009.

I'm in remission! As long as I continue to do well, Dr. Schwartzman will only need to evaluate me annually. I just have to be careful and not rush into things.

I'm also part of a research study on how chronic pain changes the brain. I had a "before" functional MRI of the brain at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA on the way to Germany in March 2008. I had the "after" MRI in November 2008.

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