"I lost all feeling below my belly button and could no longer walk, often collapsing to the floor, completely paralyzed from the waist down." - Breanna's story battling CRPS, FND, AMPS and more.

Starting around age five, I was constantly at the doctor’s office—so much so that my family and even the doctors called me “their hypochondriac.” Whenever I got sick, they’d avoid telling me about antibiotic side effects, joking, “If we tell Breanna, she’ll magically have them!"

As the years passed, I started getting injured regularly, to a point that seemed unreal. I dislocated my left kneecap 13 times within two months, and the hospital and urgent care centers became like a second home. My family thought it was all “an act for attention,” which was incredibly isolating.

Around age 15, after enduring a seven-month-long concussion, frequent knee dislocations, and countless sprains and breaks in my ankles, shoulders, wrists, fingers, and toes, I finally received a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). I was also experiencing episodes where my limbs would go limp, turn blue, and have weak pulses. The diagnosis was a relief—it felt validating, and it was the first time my mom truly believed me and my symptoms. But I had no idea this was only the beginning.

A few months later, I was also diagnosed with Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS) due to my chronic injuries. My pain was almost always at a level 12 out of 10 and dropped to 9.5 on a “good” day. I began losing friends, though my mom now believed in my condition. Soon after, my CRPS and AMPS led to choking episodes on both liquids and solids, ultimately requiring a feeding tube.

As time passed, I developed intense, stabbing pains in my spine, which then spread to my legs. I lost all feeling below my belly button and could no longer walk, often collapsing to the floor, completely paralyzed from the waist down. At age 17, I spent months in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, undergoing 15 hours of physical therapy a day. I even spent my birthday in the hospital, the day I was supposed to get my driver’s license and see the few friends who stuck by me through it all. I was eventually diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Although I now had a name for what I was going through, my symptoms were far from gone.

Just weeks later, I began passing out and having seizures. I was supposed to leave for college within two days, but I was hospitalized and only discharged the night before my move-in. It was a moment of uncertainty—could I still go to college and fulfill my dream of becoming a physical therapist, of helping others facing similar challenges? Soon after, I was also diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Vasovagal Syncope.

Today, I’m a survivor of these five conditions (while being tested for multiple more) and push through the daily challenges. I’m a college student and multi-sport athlete, with an incredible group of friends who genuinely care about me. They’ve seen me through countless seizures, fainting spells, and hospital visits, and they make me feel like I’m more than just my illness. Sadly, some doctors and even my brother still don’t believe in my conditions. I still make regular trips to the hospital, but two weeks ago, I found a specialist who spent three and a half hours with me, thoroughly explaining my conditions and laying out a plan.

Though my conditions are rare and incurable, I keep moving forward. Today, I’m an advocate and motivational speaker, sharing my journey to inspire others who face similar battles.

Breanna Alterescu

Check her out and learn more: @gotmyareil on Instagram!