Trudy’s ravaged foot
Trudy and Malcolm at No 10.
This is a picture of Trudy Lapinskis foot ravaged by a devastating neurological syndrome called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. According to her consultant, it is believed to be the worst case of its kind in the country.
It’s impossible to believe that people in the United Kingdom, in this modern day and age, with our brilliant medical knowledge and super technology, can suffer from a condition that looks like this.
One cannot imagine how Trudy has managed to live with this, how terrifying it must have been for her. Can you imagine how you would feel if you had to live with something as awful as this?
The foot was obviously amputated, though ironically that worsened Trudy’s condition by stimulating the nerve endings, and she is now losing the use of her other foot and one hand too.
Yet amazingly after two years Trudy, is still waiting for Fenland District Council to allocate her a disabled parking bay outside her home in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.
“The council said they would be setting a precedent if they gave me a disabled parking bay,” said Trudy, who is only 44.
“It is really difficult if I can’t park my van outside my house when I come out of hospital. I have to use a ramp into the van which enables me to get in with my wheelchair and I rely on a driver because of the poor condition of my limbs”.
Her plight struck a chord with North East Cambs MP Malcolm Moss who last July accompanied Trudy to 10 Downing Street when she handed in a petition signed by 2,000 people urging the government to do more to help people with this terrible condition.
Malcolm also tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons, supported by 51 MPs, expressing deep concern at the large number of people suffering from this syndrome who are not receiving prompt and adequate treatment through the NHS because of a lack of awareness about the rare condition.
It is a truly shocking syndrome. Trudy developed it in 1994 after knocking her back on the corner of a table. It resulted in chronic pain which was out of porportion for the injury. Up until then she lived a normal life and enjoyed going out clubbing. She says it often affects sportsmen and women, though usually to a lesser degree.
The intense pain spread to other parts of her body, affecting the skin, bones, circulatory and neurological system.
It can be treated by pain management and therapy if diagnosed early enough, hence Trudy’s desperate desire to constantly raise awareness among the medical profession, which includes holding a national conference in London later in December chaired by Malcolm.
She can barely type her admin for this event due to the discomfort and pain this causes, but she carries on relentless, always offering support to other sufferers.
In the time I have known Trudy, she has always been totally selfless, never complaining about the raw deal life dealt her as her condition gradually worsens, and faced with additional worries about the continuing availability of the only drug that works for her.
Who will listen to Trudy?
Thankyou for including my story in your blog. It seems the more disabled anyone is the more difficult it becomes to obtain anything that will improve our quality of life.
Trudy
it’s shame on fenland council that they cannot get their act together and help to make trudy’s life that little bit easier.
everyday trudy suffers from pain and discomfort, and like ellee’s write up says, never complains. you would have thought considering what she goes through, the council would be more than willing to help rather than give her additional stress by having to campaign for something that should be an automatic right.
it’s testament to her amazing strength of character that she never gives up on her campaigning when others would.
well done trudy!
Anna
I am Trudy’s County Councillor. I have spoken to Trudy about this issue and I am supporting her in her bid for a disabled parking space. Thank you very much for giving the issue publicity and for highlighting Trudy’s great work.
Just for clarification, the application for a disabled Parking Bay is through the County Council, not Fenland District Council.
Martin, it’s great to know you are also working on Trudy’s behalf. I would appreciate it if you could keep me posted on any developments, hopefully this very difficult and long drawn out situation will soon be resolved.
And many thanks for the clarification.
I have been a good friend of Trudy’s of over 11 years, meeting her in hospital when she was undergoing one of her many operations. Her courage and determination have been an inspiration to many RSD sufferers and her friends. She would be fully justyfied in throwing in the towel and relying on the State to fully support her instead of continuing to be self-sufficient. It is a great pitty that she has to continue batteling to receive help that should be hers by right. Well done Ellee for raising the awareness of Trudy’s condition.
Trudy is an extraordinarily courageous lady and has suffered great pain and hardship.It is laudable that she is now trying to prevent others from suffering in the same way. It is one of the triumphs of the specialism of pain management that much research worldwide has been done into the origins of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or complex regional pain syndrome as it is now called, and that it is now more often diagnosed and treated appropriately at an early stage, thus preventing the extreme problems that Trudy has suffered. However, there is always more to learn, and I hope Trudy’s study day in December 2006 will attract a large number of delegates. She deserves a huge success.