Written by Chris Connelly, D.O., CAQOM, MRO (ret) for the RSDSA blog.
Hello. My name is Chris. Actually, I’m Dr. Chris. I have practiced medicine for 32 years.
Guess what else I am? I am an RSD/CRPS sufferer, probably pretty much like you, if you’re reading this blog.
I was fairly certain of what I had, so I went to the doctor to have my diagnosis confirmed. She confirmed it alright. That was 20 years ago. I learned about RSD as a junior in medical school. I knew even way back then RSD was an ugly painful disease. What I didn’t know was how terribly painful RSD can be. I also didn’t know how limited and difficult treatment could be.
RSD and its treatment had exceeded my worst fears. Even a good graphic description of RSD in a book doesn’t do justice to the depth and breath of the terrible pain and life changing consequences that RSD will produce. Only living through the ups and downs of the excruciating pain and disability can a person truly learn the catastrophic effects that RSD will have on them. As bad as I had it, I’ve read about those who have had it much worse, endured more procedures, and had poorer outcomes than I.
I believe a new hope and relief of RSD/CRPS pain has finally arrived. There is a new medicine on the market and it is now available for use. The medicine is called Journavx (suzetrigine) made by the pharmaceutical company Vertex. It is an entirely new type of painkiller not related to any others. Journavx is non-narcotic, non-opioid and not addictive. It has no psychogenic effects whatsoever. It works by the unique mechanism of plugging the hole in the genetically defective sodium ion channels. It is the passage of sodium ions through the sodium channels that accumulate on the inside of the cell membrane that causes pain impulses. When the sodium channels have a genetic defect, they remain totally open letting sodium ions pass freely without restriction or control.
Simply put, Journavx plugs the hole: no sodium ion accumulation, no pain impulse generation, thus no pain.
The technical research that discovered these molecular structures and their functions is truly amazing. The cleverness and hard work of the research scientists is incredible to the point of almost seeming like magic or Star Wars. Neither magic nor space stories, these painkilling discoveries came about through imaginative brilliant scientific minds and relentless hard work. The result of which is a new medicine targeted at CRPS-type pain with very few side effects of its own.
Does it really work? Yes, Journavx really works for me.
How well does Journavx work? Read on and I will tell you.
I am fairly well versed in the technical aspects of the mechanism of action of Journavx including the molecular neurobiochemistry of the structures and their functions. This is all most impressive, but it is meaningless unless the medication actually relieves pain. I can speak for no one but myself. I can honestly state that Journavx has relieved 90+% of my RSD pain from the first day of taking the medicine.
As of this writing, I am on day 20 of Journavx and have little to no RSD-type pain. In my personal opinion, Journavx works very well for RSD-type pain. It works well for RSD-type pain because I must have the genetically defective sodium channels. Journavx plugs the hole.
Don’t expect Journavx to work wonderfully on every and any old pain. It wasn’t designed for that. It was designed for neuropathic pain of the RSD-type and at this, Journavx excels!
For me, well, I’m starting a new life or at least a new chapter in life. No opioids, no fogged brain or constipation, no needles, no blocks, no surgeries and no electrodes running down my spine, I can pretty much do what this septuagenarian body will permit me to do. Of course I have limitations. RSD has ravaged my left leg and body for two decades. I don’t get those years or my youth back. I do get to go on with my life relatively pain free because of Journavx. To me, after 20 years of excruciating agonizing pain, that seems miraculous, but it is actually cutting-edge brilliant science.
It is my fervent hope that all CRPS/RSD sufferers will at least know about Journavx and maybe give it a try. Because it is a very safe medication with few serious side effects, CRPS/RSD sufferers have little to lose but their pain. I personally recommend they try the new medication Journavx, and certainly before they undergo more invasive procedures.
Thank you for reading my blog. I know I didn’t get terribly personal with all the tears, failures and heartbreak. I’ve had them all. Others have described these events and emotions better than I could; please read their blogs. My purpose is to bring the great news of a scientific triumph that may benefit many or all CRPS/RSD victims.
– Dr. Chris… C’est La Bella Vie, Mon Amie!
At the time of publication, Vertex and Journavx are not sponsors of RSDSA.