Lester Wilson

I have a rare nerve disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), that started in May 2018 in my left knee and gradually is now through my entire left leg and lower back. The nerves are basically at a 10 on the pain threshold all the time and goes even higher if I even rub or scratch my leg and it prevents me from putting any pressure on the leg, like standing. If I try, beside the feeling of a tire iron going through my knee, I will get a sudden pain in the middle left side of my back and a migraine will start over my right eye. I had been using crutches until October of 2023, when suddenly the pain started in my right knee. This prevents me from putting any weight on either leg and I am know having to use a wheelchair to get around.

The most common cause of this illness is a complication from surgery and almost all other cases are in the hands, arms and feet and it’s now unusual for the condition to move to connected areas or other parts of the body. There has only been 1 other case that has started in the knee and that was after a surgery. It took over a year for an internist to diagnose my condition, since there is no way of defining this condition. You have to fail three different tests to prove that you have CRPS.

I have done everything that the doctor’s and insurance has given approval to and even some things that aren’t necessarily on the might help list. I’ve done Acupuncture, Physical Therapy, Window Therapy, temporary implant into my back and others practices and nothing has helped. I have found a medication that has at least dropped my pain to a manageable level.

Since this started, I haven’t been able to wear pants because the material is very painful on my leg and so I have been wearing shorts. I was born and raised in Oregon but from September to June was so cold on the leg, that I was in even more pain during that time. My wife we move to her old stomping grounds in Tucson and have been here since October of 2023 and other than the 100-120 degree days in summer, my leg is enjoying the dry heat and the leg doesn’t hurt as bad and I’ve been able to get more mobility in it.

Since this has moved to my right leg, I expect it to slowly start moving up and down this leg, (like the left leg), and have been planning on making changes accordingly. I will be seeing a specialist soon to make possible modifications to my current manual wheelchair and/or possibly having to get an electric wheelchair. I have passed the disabled driving class and will get our current vehicle modified to allow me to drive it, so my wife doesn’t have to drive all the time. Eventually it would be nice to have a vehicle that will have a lift or ramp that is modified for me to drive.

Family and friends of Les Wilson are raising money for the nonprofit Help Hope Live to fund uninsured medical expenses associated with Catastrophic Illness.

Les has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.

For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.

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