People who feel no pain but suffer enormously | 60 Minutes Australia

60 Minutes Australia
3 May 201912:22

Summary

TLDRThis video tells the story of Ashlyn Blocker and Gabby Gingras, two teenagers living with congenital insensitivity to pain, a rare condition that makes them unable to feel physical pain. Despite the lack of this vital alarm system, they endure injuries and health risks, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study pain mechanisms. Their experiences could potentially lead to medical breakthroughs in pain management, with the hope of developing treatments for chronic pain sufferers.

Takeaways

  • 🎼 Ashlyn Blocker, a 13-year-old from America's south, is practicing for a band recital and is like any other teenager except for her inability to feel physical pain.
  • 🔍 Ashlyn didn't realize she couldn't feel pain until her parents told her, and she is aware that her condition is different but didn't know the extent of her difference.
  • ❄️ Gabby Gingras, an 11-year-old from Minnesota, also has the same rare condition and can't feel pressure, touch, or texture, despite being able to feel hugs and kisses.
  • 🌡 Both girls have congenital insensitivity to pain, which means they can't feel extreme temperatures or the sensation of being poked or stabbed.
  • 🚨 Pain serves as an alarm system in the body, alerting individuals to stop harmful actions and signaling when something is wrong, which these girls lack.
  • 👶 Ashlyn's parents noticed something was different when she was six months old due to her lack of response to injuries, including a severe eye infection.
  • 🦷 Gabby's parents had to make the difficult decision to remove her teeth to prevent self-harm when she was a baby, as she would bite down to the bone.
  • 🏥 The girls face numerous health challenges due to their inability to feel pain, including broken bones, cuts, bruises, and life-threatening infections.
  • 🧬 Scientists are studying these girls' rare condition in the hope that it could lead to a major medical breakthrough for treating chronic pain in others.
  • 🧪 Ashlyn is undergoing tests to assess her reactions to physical pressure and record her brain's responses, which could help find a 'master switch' for pain.
  • 💡 The ultimate goal is to develop a treatment, possibly a pill or injection, to block pain channels in specific settings like emergency rooms or during acute injuries.
  • 🌟 Both Ashlyn and Gabby live as typical teenagers, showing resilience and determination, and hope that their experiences can help others suffering from chronic pain.

Q & A

  • What is the rare condition that Ashlyn Blocker and Gabby Gingras have?

    -Ashlyn Blocker and Gabby Gingras have a condition known as congenital insensitivity to pain, which means they do not experience physical pain.

  • What types of sensations can Ashlyn feel despite her condition?

    -Ashlyn can feel dull, sharp, hot, and cold sensations, but she cannot feel extreme high or extreme cold. She can also feel hugs and kisses.

  • How does Gabby describe her inability to feel certain types of touch?

    -Gabby explains that she can't feel pressure, touch, or texture at a level where she would notice being poked with a fork or stabbed.

  • What is the irony in the girls' condition in relation to their suffering?

    -The irony is that although they don't feel pain, they suffer enormously from injuries such as breaking bones, enduring cuts and bruises, and infections that threaten their lives.

  • Why is pain considered important for the body?

    -Pain serves as an alarm system for the body, signaling when something is wrong, indicating when to stop an activity, and providing crucial information about potential harm or damage.

  • At what age did Ashlyn's parents realize she had a different life from her siblings?

    -Ashlyn's parents, John and Tara Blocker, realized her life would be different when she was about six months old due to her lack of response to injuries.

  • What drastic measure did Gabby's parents take to prevent her from harming herself further?

    -Gabby's parents, Trish and Steve, made the decision to remove her teeth when she was between four and five months old to prevent her from further damaging her fingers and tongue.

  • What was the consequence of Gabby having her eyes sewn shut to heal?

    -Gabby ripped her eyes open, damaging her left eye so severely that it had to be removed, which was a devastating loss for her and her family.

  • How do Ashlyn and Gabby's experiences with their condition potentially contribute to medical science?

    -Their experiences and the study of their rare condition could lead to a major medical breakthrough, particularly in understanding and potentially treating chronic pain.

  • What is the goal of the research involving Ashlyn's condition?

    -The goal is to find the 'master switch' that controls pain, which could lead to new treatments for chronic pain sufferers, possibly in the form of a pill or injection to block pain channels.

  • What is Ashlyn's personal hope regarding the research on her condition?

    -Ashlyn hopes that her condition can help others suffering from chronic pain and considers it an amazing accomplishment if she can contribute to finding a solution.

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Ähnliche Tags
Pain InsensitivityMedical ResearchCongenital ConditionTeenage LifeChronic PainRare DisorderAshlyn BlockerGabby GingrasLife ChallengesMedical Breakthrough
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