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Woman Amputates Leg to Escape 'Suicide Disease'
14 Sep
Summary
- A young woman chose leg amputation to end chronic pain.
- She suffered from complex regional pain syndrome for years.
- Amputation significantly improved her quality of life.
A 20-year-old woman has undergone a leg amputation to find relief from chronic pain. Jess Burkinshaw, diagnosed at 15 with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), suffered daily agony that severely impacted her life.
CRPS, a condition causing intense and persistent pain following nervous system damage, earned the nickname 'suicide disease' due to its severe emotional toll. Jess described her pain as feeling like she was 'burning alive' or 'stabbed and electrocuted'.
After exhausting various treatments for over two years, including an ankle fusion and spinal cord stimulator trial, Jess made the difficult decision to have her right leg amputated in April 2026.
She reports a significant improvement in her quality of life, experiencing less pain, increased independence, and better sleep. Jess is now using her experience to raise awareness about chronic pain and disability on social media.
