TRIBUTES to a brave Fenland woman have been paid in the House of Commons during a debate on the treatment of chronic pain. Trudy Lapinskis has endured 12 years of unbearable pain after an accident in her home led to the amputation of a leg. She has Comple

TRIBUTES to a brave Fenland woman have been paid in the House of Commons during a debate on the treatment of chronic pain.

Trudy Lapinskis has endured 12 years of unbearable pain after an accident in her home led to the amputation of a leg. She has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and is believed to be one of the worst cases in the country.

North-East Cambridgeshire MP Malcolm Moss has been helping Miss Lapinskis, of Meadow View, Whittlesey, raise awareness of the condition. He applied for a Parliamentary debate on the subject because of Trudy's courage and determination to help other sufferers.

He told MPs: "In Trudy's case early diagnosis would have avoided the severe disability that she has to live with today. This debate is by way of a tribute to her and her unstinting work on behalf of other RSD sufferers."

He said: "It is imperative that awareness should be raised among GPs and consultants, with early diagnosis and treatment encouraged to minimise the terrible suffering brought on by the disorder."

Mr Moss said while specialist services exist in most hospitals, services are stretched and some have been withdrawn. He highlighted a successful scheme whereby patients with back pain were allowed to return to work part time but retained benefits for a while and called for similar schemes to be made more readily available.

MPs were told that Miss Lapinskis is planning a conference in London in December which has already attracted prominent speakers from all over the world.

Health Minister Andy Burnham said: "I take on board the issues that he (Mr Moss) raised about the treatment and management of pain in the NHS.

"He is right to say that pain can have a devastating effect on the quality of an individual's life.