Finding the right treatment

Disclaimer: the following case study has been written by a medical doctor, designed for illustrative purposes based on research and is not representative of an actual patient.

Mary is a 25 year old postgraduate philosophy student. Last year, when on holiday, she was in a car accident with her boyfriend. Both of them suffered cuts and bruises and her only serious injury was a break in her lower leg. When she went to hospital they pinned the bones back together and put a plaster cast on her leg while it healed. Mary and her boyfriend returned home relieved that the accident had not been more serious.

A few days later Mary began to experience a burning sensation inside the cast. She found that the pain was aggravated by movement and she felt a stabbing sensation around her ankle. When examined, Mary’s leg was seen to have two scars, one from her injury and another from the surgery. Also, her leg was red and swollen. When her doctor carried out a series of tests, Mary described that as well as the burning and stabbing pains she felt an increased sensitivity to light touch on her foot and along her leg. The doctor suggested that during surgery nerves in the leg were damaged. The doctor explained that damaged nerves can randomly send signals to the brain, causing neuropathic pain, but the source of such pain is often unclear. The doctor prescribed a medication regimen which, over the following days, reduced the pain. The pain improved and the doctor also prescribed an intensive course of physiotherapy and drainage of the limb.

Fifteen weeks after the accident Mary’s plaster cast was removed. Her leg fracture had healed properly and the neuropathic pain had improved considerably, although she still feels the occasional crawling pain near her ankle. This year, she and her boyfriend are planning a walking holiday.

Your mystery pain could have a name – share how you feel with others and visit your doctor, describing your pain in full. If we can name it, we can fight it.