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

Summary

This 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.