Help Charlie Overcome Chronic MSK Pain & Reclaim his career

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Help Charlie Fund urgent medical care to overcome complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a Chronic Musculoskeletal disorder, Resulting Mental Health Struggles, and Get Back to a Filmmaking and photography career :

Hi, I’m Charlie, a 21-year-old from Somerset, England, and I'm reaching out for help during a really tough time in my life. as many of you will know I really don't like talking about this but i feel like I have no other option than to ask for your support.

For almost three years, I’ve been battling a debilitating and chronic musculoskeletal condition that was recently discovered to be complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) which has robbed me of my last normal teenage years, leaving me in constant pain and unable to live a regular life.

CRPS is a complex condition that causes severe, persistent pain and is associated with central nervous system (CNS) sensitisation and autonomic nervous system (ANS) disfunction.

CRPS is often recognized as the most painful condition known to medicine, ranking higher than childbirth and amputation on the McGill Pain Index. While there is no "cure", it can be treated, and remission is possible. However, the condition is notoriously challenging and costly to manage due to its complex and unpredictable nature and as such the NHS can't offer much to help.

what started as muscle strain and frequent headaches at age 18 towards my 19th birthday has now progressed into an agonising condition causing extreme and constant muscle spasms and inflammation that has taken away my quality of life and left me unable to function without adequate treatment which I am unable to receive from the NHS

I've found myself helpless and agonised spending sleepless nights in A&E more times than i can count, my hands almost purple from the strain the spasms and inflammation were putting on my nervous system.

I remember the staff at Bath Hospital announcing that only one triage nurse would be available for the next 12 hours and that i should "leave if i was not dying".

CRPS is known anecdotally as the “Suicide Disease” because the pain is so intensely incapacitating that too many lose hope.

Alongside this, and as a result I face anxiety, depression, and ADHD, which recently culminated in a suicide attempt. I’m doing my best to fight through these challenges, but I urgently need your support to rebuild my life.

Living with complex regional pain syndrome and musculoskeletal pain has drastically altered my daily life. Simple tasks, like getting out of bed or preparing a meal, can feel insurmountable due to the constant pain and muscle spasms. I wake up each day wondering how much I’ll be able to accomplish, and often I find myself relying on family for support with even basic activities. When I manage to, I go to sleep heavily medicated, covered in ice or heat packs and with wrist splints on my arms, this is no way to live.

(an example of the daily medication I have had to take to manage the pain)

I've tried all the typical drugs indicated for conditions like this, but nothing short of strong, addictive narcotics has worked well – and even then, Opioids only numb the pain, they don’t alleviate it fully or address the root cause of the pain.

The pain can become overwhelming, especially during moments of stress or anxiety, leaving me exhausted and disheartened. Social interactions, once a source of joy, now feel like daunting challenges; I often cancel plans, fearing I won’t be able to keep up. This isolation weighs heavily on my mental health, making it hard to stay connected to friends and the creative community I miss so much. I’m determined to fight through this, but the daily struggles are relentless and often leave me feeling hopeless. but I know remission is possible with support

The NHS is overwhelmed, and I find myself at the back of waiting lists for crucial pain management and mental health support. I’ve had to turn to private care just to receive the treatment I desperately need, but it’s financially overwhelming.

Life before

Before my health issues, I was building a strong career in filmmaking and photography. At 17 I was signed to a personal manager and contracted to photograph artists and film music videos with Warner Music. A life changing trip abroad to photograph an album cover for an established artist was the moment it began to unravel, despite the pain and difficulty I was in, I said yes to the job. However I was so heavily sedated on pain medication to get through the shoot, I slipped on some rocks by a beach during the shoot, breaking my camera and other equipment. I walked hours to try to get a replacement, I didn't succeed, I was exhausted and had to return home, my stuff has never been repaired and it marked the beginning of a spiral I haven't come out of.

A similar set of circumstances caused me to lose my laptop containing my life's work; photographic and filmmaking portfolio. Chronic pain derailed everything, forcing me to step away from the career I was passionate about.

Due to my condition, I struggle to use computers and cameras effectively without a lot of pain, making it impossible to work on my passion for filmmaking and photography. Even writing this was a challenge, and I had to rely on dictation software and support to get it done.

Due to the complex intricacies of musculoskeletal disorders I've had to (and will have to) explore a huge variety of treatment options.

This condition has left me feeling isolated and desperate for support.

Here’s an overview of my journey so far:

Explored over 20 different medications for various issues, from anti-spasmodics, migraine based medications to nerve-related treatments.

Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS): This test checks the speed and strength of electrical signals in your nerves by inducing electric shocks along the nerves, helping identify nerve damage or dysfunction.

Electromyography (EMG): By inserting a needle into your muscles, this procedure measures their electrical activity at rest and during contraction, distinguishing between muscle and nerve issues.

London Pain Clinic Consultations: Attending this clinic provided specialised care for chronic pain, focusing on effective treatment options for Musculoskeletal disorders and complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Multiple MRIs:

Cervical Spine MRI: Focuses on the neck area to visualize the vertebrae and spinal cord, identifying and ruling out conditions like herniated discs.

Brain MRI: Provides detailed images of the brain, helping rule out abnormalities like tumours

Second Spine MRI: Offers additional insights into other spinal regions

Here’s what I'm humbly asking for:

Funds for private treatment for my chronic pain, including physiotherapy and nerve blocks / muscular Botox / steroid injections to manage my pain which are costly and unavailable on the NHS. additional scans to determine a root cause along with follow up orthopaedic consultations, additionally mental health support to address my resulting anxiety and depression.

Seeking specialized care is crucial for managing this painful condition. Clinics like the London Pain Clinic and Bath Rheumatic Diseases Hospital offer private treatment options, but these come with high costs.

Financing for assistive technologies. to manage my pain effectively activity modification is essential for recovery. These tools could help me navigate daily tasks and improve my quality of life, making it easier to cope with my condition.

Living expenses, since my condition prevents me from working full-time, and I’m relying on my mum and the broken universal credit system for support, which isn’t sustainable. My father died when I was three years old and I only have one parents income to support me, and no further family funds. I currently recieve £117 per month from universal credit. A recent study concluded at least £650 - £1,100 is necessary just to cover living expenses for a healthy individual.

Independent travel; a car or van to regain my independence and rebuild my career in photography and filmmaking. This vehicle is essential for me to travel for gigs, attend events, and connect with the creative community. Without it, I'm trapped at home in agony, cut off from opportunities that could help me reclaim my ambition and drive. I can’t stress enough how critical this is for my mental and emotional well-being; having a vehicle would mean I can finally break free from this isolation and start to live again.

Funding to repair my photography and filmmaking equipment and laptop, which is my passion and a key part of my career aspirations. Having to sell some of my equipment and losing the ability to create has devastated me, and I want to get back to telling stories through my lens and reclaim my motivation.

As a last resort the Spero Clinic, located in Little Rock, Arkansas, is currently the only center in the world specializing in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), it has an 85% successful remission rate. However, pursuing treatment there would require raising the fundraising goal significantly to cover the associated costs.

Your support can truly transform my life—only you can help me find the path to healing and creativity. Whether it's assisting me in accessing necessary treatments, regaining my mobility, or restarting my career as a filmmaker and photographer, every contribution brings me one step closer to living the life I dream of.

Studies show that the longer CRPS is left untreated, the less likely full recovery becomes. This is why I urgently need support

I am at a critical juncture where your help could mean the difference between continuing this painful cycle or stepping into a brighter future.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer.

I know this is a financially difficult time for everyone but if you can provide a donation or otherwise give me advice on how to share my story it would mean everything.