A MUM left in agony after twisting her ankle five years ago wants to have her foot amputated to stop the pain.

Nichola Cunningham suffers with complex regional pain syndrome, which leaves her in agony.

Now she feels surgery is the only route left, even though it may not improve the condition.

“There’s no guarantee that it will stop the pain, it could actually make things worse,” said Nichola.

“The condition could remain in the stump or spread through the rest of my body. But it’s the only chance I have to get back to normality. I want to be able to walk again.”

The 46-year-old has previously had surgery on her ankle but the pain continued.

“Following the operation the pain just got worse and worse,” said Nichola.

“It’s the worse I’ve ever had. On a good day the pain is seven out of 10 and on a bad one it’s right off the scale.”

CRPS is a chronic pain condition that often affects one limb, usually after an injury. It is thought to be caused by damage to the central nervous systems. There is no known cure or definitive treatment.

Since the injury Nichola’s condition deteriorated and she now uses a wheelchair full-time and can’t walk. She is waiting for her appointment next month to hear if amputating her foot at the ankle will be an option.

Nichola, who lives in Freshbrook, said: "The pain is just horrendous. The closest way of describing it is like electric shocks constantly going off in my foot. Depending on the day or what the weather is like or if I’ve caught it on something, will affect the severity of those electric shocks.”

“The foot itself is very overly sensitive,” she continued.

“It can’t tolerate touch or cold air. Rain is a nightmare, it feels like acid falling on it.”

Nichola has suffered complications including painful muscle contractions, non-epileptic seizures as well as severe depression and anxiety.

“I get brain fog,” said Nichola. “I can’t concentrate, or can’t remember things well. I struggle to recall words sometimes or information if someone is trying to tell me something.”

The condition has meant Nichola had to give up her job as an operating department practitioner at the Royal United Hospitals in Bath.

“I was in tears at work with the pain. One day my boss found me crying and sent me home. And that was the end of my career.

“I adored my job, I adored working in theatre. And only the year before my accident I had graduated so I could do this. And it all went down the pan.”

“I’ve gone from someone with a new career, who used to go to the gym all the time and was training for my first triathlon. I used to be a gym freak. If I was not on run or at gym I was at work.”

Nichola’s condition has also impacted her husband, David, and two children, 16 and 14.

“They’re both officially registered young carers,” said Nichola. “They have to help me out to varying degrees depending on how the day is. It could be fetching something, or even holding me when I’m having a seizure. They often cook dinner and tidy up the house, all the sort of things kids shouldn’t have to do.”

Last month David and some friends cycled 900 miles from Bilbao in Spain, to Malaga. They raised £3,000 for CRPS UK, which has supported Nichola’s family. To donate visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/North2South1