Jazmin Farr suffers unrelenting pain said to be worse than childbirth

Jazmin Farr was jumping on her trampoline when she broke her ankle three years ago. Her life has never been the same since.

Jazmin Farr, 11, suffers from a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome. Picture: Supplied by family

Young Jazmin Farr experiences unrelenting and constant pain, worse than unmedicated childbirth, never having reprieve, even when she sleeps.

The 11-year-old suffers with a very rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) since she broke her ankle jumping on her trampoline on Boxing Day when she was only eight years old.

For Jazmin, alongside the constant 24/7 pain which feels like her bones are being crushed or stabbed with a knife, she suffers swelling, bruising, discolouration, extreme temperature changes, fatigue and insomnia.

To shower or wear clothes feels like having a thousand pins poked into her skin. She hasn’t been able to attend school in person in years.

She calls her condition “the great evil” and she begs each day for it to end.

Jazmin Farr, 11, suffers from a rare neurological condition called complex regional pain syndrome. Picture: Supplied by family

The McGill Pain Scale rated complex regional pain syndrome the most painful condition ever. Picture: Supplied by family

The McGill Pain Scale considers CRPS the most painful condition ever – rating it higher than unplanned, unmedicated childbirth.

Her mum Amanda Farr, 40, said watching Jazmin in constant pain is “agonising, painful and distressing”.

“As a parent, to watch your child in absolute agony in pain and there is absolutely nothing that you can do to fix that pain …(you) feel helpless,” she said.

According to The Spero Clinic, a specialised CRPS clinic in the US Ms Farr wants to bring her daughter to, CRPS is referred to as the “suicide disease”.

“The pain that CRPS patients feel is so intense and so horrendous that unfortunately some people do see that as the only way out of not suffering anymore with their pain,” Ms Farr from Woodcroft said.

Ms Farr, who is Jazmin’s full-time carer, as well as her husband and Jazmin’s dad Brenton Farr worry for their daughter.

“She’s definitely a fighter … but there’s only so much that you can take … knowing you’re going to wake up tomorrow and do it all over again, there’s no relief,” Ms Farr said.

“It’s a scary thought which is why … we feel going to America and going to The Spero Clinic … is our only chance at giving her any chance of a quality of life.”

Ms Farr believes there’s a lack of knowledge in Australia about her daughters condition. Picture: Supplied by family

Jazmin will eventually travel to the United States to undergo treatment at The Spero Clinic. Picture: Supplied by family

Jazmin has continued to suffer despite trying a range of treatments. Ms Farr said there’s a lack of knowledge in Australia about her daughter’s condition.

It even took Jazmin a year and a half since she broke her ankle to get a diagnosis.

“No one has knowledge of CRPS, not even doctors and medical professionals,” she said.

“We spent more time in the emergency department then some people spend in a lifetime and every doctor was the same.

“They would say ‘something’s not right, it’s unusual’ but they didn’t know what was wrong with her so no one could give us any answers.”

When a doctor at the Women’s and Children’s finally diagnosed Jazmin with CRPS it wasn’t a relief.

“It was quite daunting to hear that, yes she was diagnosed but we still had no answers,” she said.

Jazmin when she initially broke her ankle on Boxing Day 2019. Picture: Supplied by family

Jazmin experiences swelling, bruising and extreme pain constantly. Picture: Supplied by family

The Farr’s including Jazmin’s brother Kodi are hoping The Spero Clinic is able to provide effective treatment for Jazmin.

“Our life has really been turned upside down and Jazmin’s life did come to a halt,” Ms Farr said.

“This is not a normal life.”

If you’d like to donate to Jazmin and her family, you can here.

Originally published as Jazmin Farr suffers unrelenting pain said to be worse than childbirth