WHEN Sophie Cole suffered an assault while teaching in 2022, she never imagined it would change her life for good.
Working as a Special Needs teacher, she leant down to clear up spilled water – but seconds later her hand was grabbed and slammed into a steel table.
Sophie Cole suffered the incident while working as a teacher in 2022 Credit: Cover Images
Doctors diagnosed her with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Credit: Cover Images
Despite treatment, her condition deteriorated and doctors diagnosed her with (CRPS).
CRPS, with is thought to affect around 16,000 Brits, is a experiencing persistent, severe and debilitating pain.
Described by some as “the suicide disease” due to its , it usually only affects one limb, but can occasionally spread to other parts of the body.
Sophie, now 32, is left in so much pain that she often feels like her arm is on fire.
Despite undergoing countless treatments including nerve burnings and spinal cord stimulation, she still feels like her arm is “being torn with a cheese grater”.
Recalling her horrifying ordeal, Sophie from Cork, said: “I knelt beside a child, put my hand on the table to balance myself, and when I did that my hand was grabbed and slammed into a steel table. In that moment, my life changed as I knew it.
“It feels like it [her arm] is in flames at the same time as being torn with a cheese grater.
“I frequently check if it’s still there as it feels like it’s been burnt off me.
“Then there is a feeling of electric shocks shooting up the arm, as well as a heaviness and deadness.
“Being in that much agony constantly causes migraines too. I’ve been told I will never be free of pain.”
Sophie, who says she does not hold the child responsible, can now no longer drive or work.
Instead, she spends much of her time travelling around the country attending hospital appointments, visiting different doctors and consultants in the hope of reducing the pain.
Sophie, now 32, is left in so much pain that she often feels like her arm is on fire Credit: Cover Images
Despite undergoing countless treatments she still feels like her arm is “being torn with a cheese grater” Credit: Cover Images
She has also had to give up work and now relies on invalidity payments.
“To receive a letter in the post that states you are permanently unfit for work in your thirties is devastating. But I remain hopeful that new treatments will be developed that could help,” she said.
“There is no known cure, so everything is trial and error.
“I have had numerous treatments and nerve blocks, but so much just causes more agonising pain. Every surgery and procedure can cause it to flare further. It’s horrendous.”
Sophie said she , but doctors have told her that this may not end the constant physical pain.
She also continues to experience secondary symptoms including exhaustion, brain fog and post-traumatic stress disorder and has given up artistic hobbies, running, CrossFit and .
But now, Sophie is also expecting her first child with husband Shane.
She had been taking ketamine and opioids regularly to manage her pain, but had to come off both in preparation for pregnancy – a process that required carefully balanced withdrawal with ongoing severe pain.
“We are really excited and we are looking forward to having some sort of a life back,” Sophie said.
“It’s been such a hellish few years. We are planning prams and car seats, but have to look carefully for things that can be operated one-handed.
Sophie is now expecting her first child with husband Shane Credit: Cover Images
She is also calling for better support for working with children with Special Educational Needs (SEND), so that others do not face similar life-altering consequences.
“It is really important that people understand I don’t blame the student for what happened to me,” she added.
“And while it was terrible, I am not the only one. 96 per cent of teachers in Special and classes have suffered an assault. It is prevalent.
“This is what they are facing on a daily basis. The resources aren’t there, the staffing isn’t there, the supports aren’t there for our students.
“And that’s why we’re seeing these behaviours. The only thing that will prevent these assaults is more funding and better resources.”
UK: For help and support, call the Samaritans for free from a UK phone, completely anonymously, on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
US: If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org.
What are the symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?
The pain of CRPS is usually triggered by an injury.
But the pain is a lot more severe and long-lasting than would normally be expected.
The pain may feel like a mix of burning, stabbing or stinging. There may also be tingling and numbness.
In addition to chronic pain, CRPS can also cause a range of other symptoms.
These can include:
- strange sensations in the affected limb – it may feel as if it does not belong to the rest of your body, or it may feel bigger or smaller than the opposite unaffected limb
- alternating changes to your skin – sometimes your skin in the affected limb may be hot, red and dry, whereas other times it may be cold, blue and sweaty – changes to skin colour may be harder to see on brown and black skin
- hair and nail changes – your hair and nails in the affected limb may grow unusually slowly or quickly and your nails may become brittle or grooved
- joint stiffness and swelling in the affected limb (oedema)
- tremors and muscle spasms (dystonia)
- difficulty moving the affected body part
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- small patches of fragile bones (osteoporosis) in the affected limb – although there’s no evidence this could lead to fractures
Source: The NHS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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