Sophie learnt how to acknowledge her pain
In 2011, when I was hit by a car, my life totally changed. All the plans and hopes I had at that point felt a million miles away and, being honest, impossible. It took me years before I could swim again because the pain my complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) causes means that anything touching my legs and feet hurts – including water! At first, I would be in tears just having a shower. I couldn’t wear trousers, shoes or socks and even the wind would hurt my legs. I was like that for several years but after doing an intense course at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases I learnt how to do things despite the pain. My goal for the end of the course was to wear a pair of trainers and socks for my final physiotherapy session. It was difficult and painful, but I managed it. I still use what I learnt in those sessions at the hospital today and without them I wouldn’t be able to swim.