My Leg Won't Stop Shaking (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) | Our Life

This award-winning extreme medicine series looks at the work of pioneering medical teams at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital and follows the progress of young patients with extremely rare childhood conditions. In this episode, a team of doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists try to work out why a seventeen year old girl's leg is shaking wildly and painfully - and how to cure the condition.

This film was first broadcast: 28 Mar 2007

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[Eldfell]

As a 14 y/o girl, this makes me realize how lucky I am. I don't appreciate simple things as much as I should. Jessica is very strong, I wish her all the best...

[keeper]

That poor girl's face is so red from all the pain...it breaks my heart...she is so strong...and I am so proud of her

[souledout]

I had RSD in my left arm, it was miserable. A series of shots through the front of my neck to a certain nerve in my spinal column eventually fixed it. They would shut the nerve down and then “ reboot “ it back up. I was told that every session that if they hit the wrong spot I would die on the table. Each week my husband and I said our last goodbyes in the waiting room; he didn’t know if I would walk back through the doors or if the doctor would come with bad news. VERY STRESSFUL How blessed, after about 3 months of this procedure my arm was normal again. This was done several years ago, I’m still fine and thankful to the medical staff at UNC.

[YongboksLoudestFan]

she's SOOO beautiful and strong, dude
i'm so proud of everyone and her.

[jovanaluna]

I had a friend in high school who had this same condition. Same leg even. She would beg the docs to just cut the lef off. It was heartbreaking. This patients are really strong people.

[Sylvester_Kim]

She's just 14, i cant imagine the amount of pain she is going through let along trying to figure how to control her pain. She is a very strong person. I would've cried and scream my head off at that age. I hope she is all well. 🥰💜

[kevinsmith]

In a science museum years back, there was a metal plate to place your hand on. The plate stimulated the nerves for hot and cold. I don't recall the cold, but the "heat" part registered as if you had your hand on a hot iron, yet as soon as your hand was off, there was no redness and no lingering sensation of discomfort. As kids, we had to make a contest out of it to see who could leave their hand on the longest. Each of us shared the same strategy. We concentrated on repeating to ourselves that we were not being burned. That no harm was being done. The moment we broke our concentration, the pain registered. It was a lesson in mind over matter.

[edenelodie]

This condition is so crazy to me, I can't even imagine being in such a huge amount of "unexplainable" pain, it's just wild. I hope it gets a universally useful cure and that people won't have to suffer through so much of it in the foreseeable future ❤️

[SOxITxGOES]

I have RSD in both legs and when Jessica said “the pain hasn’t gone away but I’ve just learned to cope with it and not let it get to me” that made me so emotional. I had to do so much physical therapy to walk again and it basically trained me to dissociate through the pain. The pain is always there in the background. You just learn to tune it out like a static on the radio. I wouldn’t wish this condition on anyone.

[spulwasser]

Nerve pain is the worst. She must be a really strong person to fight through this with such determination. I'm happy she can go back to her normal life now, and hope she will never have to experience that pain again

[tocryindutch]

its been 18 years, i really hope shes doing well now🙏🏻

[NN-rnoz]

As a doctor, I found this heartbreaking to watch. One thing that came to my mind for therapeutic option was electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), since a major part of the problem is in the central nervous system. Then I read that this has been studied, with some supporting evidence but only from case reports. In any case I am glad that she is better and I hope with all my heart that she will have no relapse.

[StephanieYoungChannl]

It's hard to watch her trying to walk normally, and having to pretend that she's not in agony with every step. Makes me tear up and made a realize how blessed I am to not have to go through this condition. So much respect for Jessica. She's such a strong young lady, overcoming a tremendous obstacle with such grace. I wish only blessings and kindness to her for the rest of her life.

[lucymilligann]

this makes me so emotional. she is such a strong, brave, and determined girl. she deserves so much love and affection.

[PrincessZoee]

I salute these physiotherapists for their determination and hardwork and professionalism. Happy to see this young girl back on her feet

[SazzleLP]

This documentary made me so uneasy, but she fought through it all end the end result made me really happy. I wish her the best! Very strong girl!

[m.ccheddarbox]

This is the one reason I love the internet. I had no idea this condition was a thing and to get to see her walk at the end was amazing. I hope she's doing well.

[Megha]

And here I am crying about my period cramps. She's such a strong girl

[tricki_nicki]

The strength this girl has is just incredible.