Fundraising page launched for Old Stratford dad whose foot was crushed at work by fire doors sliding off trolley
A fundraising page has been launched for a dad from Old Stratford who is seeking treatment for a rare pain syndrome he was diagnosed with after his left foot was crushed in an injury sustained at work.
Alex Buey was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) eight years ago after sustaining ‘a crush injury’ while working as a kitchen and bathroom installer.
CRPS, which is described by the National Health Service as ‘a poorly understood condition where a person experiences persistent severe and debilitating pain’, has left Alex unable to work full-time and support his family with young children in the same way he once did.
Alex’s wife Amy said: “Alex had an accident at work in November 2018 when nine fire doors slid off a trolley and crushed his left foot resulting in a metatarsal fracture.
“This wasn't originally picked up by the hospital until an MRI scan in the spring of 2019 revealed it, but at this point he had spent just over three months in a support boot which we have been told likely contributed to him developing CRPS.
“He was prescribed an array of pain relief medication including several highly addictive opioids such as gabapentin and pregabalin, both of which made him suicidal on numerous occasions, before he was started on fentanyl which he has been on for the last four years.
“This is topped up when needed with morphine, cocodamol, diazepam and diclofenac as well as sleeping tablets at night as the pain regularly keeps him awake.
“He was also given ketamine and lidocaine infusions every four to six months, but this unfortunately caused him to go into urinary retention so was stopped.
“To treat this meant he needed to have a urinary catheter placed but because of the extreme pain he experiences his GP wrote a referring letter to A&E staff stating that he must be sedated for the procedure urgently.
“Because of the trauma of this he now has to regularly use a urine collection system and take extra medication to control his symptoms.”
The NHS adds that CRPS ‘usually only affects one limb’ and that a ‘slight touch, bump or change in temperature can cause intense pain.’
It classifies CRPS as ‘fairly uncommon’ and says that there is ‘currently no cure for the condition.’
The syndrome left Alex unable to drive for three years and meant he could not work regularly with Amy saying: “He needs regular support when out and about either from myself or friends in case of a flare up, which can happen at any time, meaning that he also has had to almost stop his favourite pastime of carp fishing unless there is someone to be with him.
“Our three children have had to grow up seeing him in immense pain at times and have days out or plans cancelled at a moments’ notice, and he is unable to play with them as he would wish or do simple things such as a bike ride.”
The family explored options for treatment and came across scrambler therapy, which is largely unknown in the UK but available in Italy, Germany and the United States, with a typical cost of between £4,000 and £6,000.
According to the Scrambler Therapy website, the treatment is a ‘non-invasive neuromodulation therapy for chronic neuropathic pain based on information substitution rather than signal inhibition.’
The website says advantages of the treatment are that ‘it does not damage tissue, implant hardware or rely on ongoing inhibition of nerve activity.’
Amy added: “There are lots of success stories online with numerous UK patients having found success.
“There are people that have been wheelchair bound and unable to walk for years who are able to walk again by the end of their treatment!
“There is no guarantee obviously and although there are a handful of patients that have found no relief or improvement, the amount that have is significant.”
The family have been offered treatment in Italy but when travel and accommodation are factored in, they are looking at total costs of at least £4,000.
A fundraising page has been set up by Alex’s sister-in-law Holly Jefferys to help towards the costs and has raised £1,080 at the time of writing.
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