ON A CRUS ADE TO BE AT CRP S

A TOWNSVILLE woman has joined a campaign to raise awareness of a rare, debilitating condition that has had a dramatic impact on her life.

Complex regional pain syndrome ( CRPS) is a painful condition felt in a person’s arm, hand, leg or foot, which occurs after an injury, such as a fracture.

Cassandra Schofield, from Bohle Plains, was diagnosed with the syndrome in May 2016 after falling at work in her role as an assistant in nursing.

Ms Schofield ( pictured) was able to return to work initially. However, in the past two months she has been at home as her symptoms have worsened.

Living with her partner, a 10- year- old son with autism and 16- year- old stepson, Mrs Schofield said she bought a new Mazda CX 3 in January 2016 and had been unable to drive it.

“I’ve lost all my independence. I can’t drive a car, I can’t go shopping and I can’t go back to work,” she said.

November is CRPS awareness month and has been initiated by national group The Purple Bucket Foundation Inc, founded in June 2011 by a CRPS sufferer.

Ms Schofield has asked for people to donate to The Purple Bucket Foundation and support the search for a cure.

“One day I might wake up and it might be all gone, but it can also continue for one year and go up to 10 years,” she said.