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.

Outlines

00:00

😖 The Unusual Lives of Pain-Free Teenagers

Ashlyn Blocker and Gabby Gingras are two teenagers living in America and Minnesota, respectively, who suffer from a rare condition known as congenital insensitivity to pain. This condition prevents them from feeling physical pain, which, while seeming like a blessing, leads to numerous challenges and injuries. Ashlyn only realized her condition when her parents informed her, and Gabby describes her inability to feel pressure or texture. Both girls have had to endure life-threatening injuries and infections due to their inability to sense pain, which serves as a crucial alarm system for the body. Their parents, John and Tara Blocker, and Trish and Steve, have had to make difficult decisions to protect their daughters, such as removing Gabby's teeth to prevent self-harm. The story highlights the importance of pain and the struggles these families face in ensuring their children's safety.

05:01

🏥 Medical Challenges and the Search for a Pain Cure

The narrative continues to explore the medical implications of congenital insensitivity to pain, focusing on the challenges faced by the girls and their families. Gabby's parents had to remove her teeth and later, tragically, her left eye due to self-inflicted injuries. Ashlyn has also experienced severe accidents, such as boiling water burns, due to her inability to feel pain. Scientists and medical professionals are intrigued by these cases, as they offer a unique opportunity to study pain perception and potentially lead to breakthroughs in pain management. Ashlyn is undergoing tests that assess her reactions to physical pressure and record her brain's responses, which could help researchers find a way to treat chronic pain sufferers. Dr. Roman, a pain specialist, is optimistic about the possibility of developing a treatment to block pain channels, possibly within five years, which could be a game-changer for emergency medicine and acute injury management.

10:03

🌟 Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers and the Resilience of Ashlyn and Gabby

The final paragraph discusses the potential positive outcomes of the research into congenital insensitivity to pain. The goal is to develop a treatment that could make individuals insensitive to pain in specific settings, such as emergency rooms or during acute injuries, to prevent the incapacitation caused by severe pain. Ashlyn and Gabby, despite their challenges, are portrayed as resilient and determined individuals who aim to make life easier not only for themselves but also for others who suffer from chronic pain. The story concludes with a message of hope, as Ashlyn expresses her desire to help others through her unique condition, and Gabby shows an indomitable spirit, willing to take on any challenge. The segment ends with a call to action for viewers to stay updated with the latest content from 60 Minutes Australia.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Congenital insensitivity to pain

This is an extremely rare medical condition where individuals are unable to perceive physical pain. In the video, Ashlyn Blocker and Gabby Gingras are both depicted as having this condition, which significantly affects their daily lives and interactions with the world around them. The condition is central to the video's theme, illustrating the challenges they face and the unique perspective they have on pain.

💡Pain

Pain is a sensory and emotional experience typically associated with actual or potential tissue damage. It serves as an alarm system for the body, signaling when something is wrong. In the context of the video, the lack of pain sensation in Ashlyn and Gabby is contrasted with the vital role pain plays for those who can feel it, highlighting the importance of pain as a protective mechanism.

💡Extremes of temperature

The script mentions that Ashlyn can feel 'dull, sharp, hot, and cold,' but not 'extreme high or extreme cold.' This refers to her inability to perceive the extremes of temperature, which is a part of her insensitivity to pain. The concept is relevant as it shows the limitations of her condition and the different sensory experiences she has compared to others.

💡Injuries

Injuries are physical damages to the body that can occur from accidents or other causes. The video describes how Ashlyn and Gabby, despite not feeling pain, suffer from injuries such as broken bones, cuts, and bruises. These injuries are a direct consequence of their inability to sense pain, which would otherwise warn them of potential harm.

💡Medical breakthrough

The video suggests that the study of Ashlyn's condition could lead to significant advancements in medical science. Specifically, it mentions the possibility of finding a 'master switch' for pain, which could have profound implications for treating chronic pain sufferers. This concept ties into the broader narrative of turning a rare condition into an opportunity for scientific discovery.

💡Chronic pain

Chronic pain refers to pain that persists beyond the expected period of healing or recurs over long periods. In the video, the potential application of研究成果 from studying individuals like Ashlyn and Gabby is to develop treatments for those who suffer from chronic pain. The script contrasts their lack of pain with the plight of chronic pain patients, emphasizing the potential benefits of the research.

💡Sensory experiences

Sensory experiences encompass the various ways in which individuals perceive the world through their senses. The video script notes that Gabby can't feel 'pressure, touch, or texture,' but she can feel 'hugs and kisses.' This highlights the selective nature of her sensory experiences and contrasts with the full range of sensory input most people experience.

💡Alarm system

The term 'alarm system' is used metaphorically in the video to describe the function of pain in the body. It alerts individuals to potential harm or injury, prompting them to take action to prevent further damage. The script uses this concept to underscore the protective role of pain and the dangers faced by those who cannot feel it.

💡Self-harm

Self-harm involves intentionally causing damage to one's own body. The video describes instances where Gabby, due to her inability to feel pain, bit her fingers to the bone, illustrating the extreme risks of self-harm that individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain might face without the natural deterrent of pain.

💡Scientific research

The script discusses the ongoing research involving Ashlyn, which includes tests to assess her reactions to physical pressure and to record her brain's responses. This research is part of the broader scientific endeavor to understand pain mechanisms better and potentially develop new treatments, making it a key aspect of the video's exploration of pain and its implications.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation in this context refers to the way individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain learn to live with their condition. The video shows how Ashlyn and Gabby, along with their families, adapt to their unique circumstances, emphasizing the resilience and determination required to navigate life without the guidance of pain.

Highlights

Ashlyn Blocker, a 13-year-old girl, has never experienced physical pain since birth.

Gabby Gingras, an 11-year-old from Minnesota, also has congenital insensitivity to pain, unable to feel pressure or texture.

Pain serves as an alarm system for the body, signaling when to stop harmful actions.

John and Tara Blocker noticed Ashlyn's condition when she was six months old due to her lack of response to injuries.

Gabby's parents, Trish and Steve, had to remove her teeth to prevent self-harm caused by her inability to feel pain.

Gabby lost her left eye due to self-inflicted damage as a result of her condition.

Ashlyn and Gabby's conditions are being studied to potentially lead to a medical breakthrough for pain management.

Ashlyn is undergoing tests to research her condition, including her brain's reactions to physical pressure.

Dr. Roman, a pain specialist, is hopeful of finding a 'master switch' for pain within five years.

The goal is to develop treatments that could block pain channels, potentially helping those with chronic pain.

Ashlyn and Gabby are seen as 'walking living experiments' in the quest for pain management solutions.

Ashlyn expresses a desire to help others suffering from chronic pain through her condition.

Despite their challenges, both girls live as typical teenagers, showing resilience and determination.

The story highlights the importance of pain as a protective mechanism and the potential for new treatments.

The girls' experiences underscore the need for caution and education about their condition to prevent harm.

The narrative follows Ashlyn and Gabby's families as they navigate the complexities of living with congenital insensitivity to pain.

60 Minutes Australia explores the lives of these extraordinary young girls and the scientific implications of their condition.