Highlighting 'Gangjik Ingan Syndrome'
Affects 1 in 1 million
Cause unknown, no treatment available
A heartbreaking story has emerged about a woman in her 30s from the United States suffering from "Stiff Person Syndrome," a condition that causes the muscles throughout the body to stiffen. This disease is the same one that famous pop star Celine Dion is experiencing.
On the 20th (local time), the U.S. daily newspaper New York Post highlighted Jennifer Trujillo (39), who lives in Washington state. Trujillo was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2020 and has been battling the disease since.
A woman in her 30s from the United States suffering from ankylosing spondylitis [Image source=Captured from New York Post]
She began experiencing spasms in her back in 2015 and has suffered from persistent pain ever since. Stiff Person Syndrome is a type of fibrosis that causes the entire body to become rigid. Initially, muscle stiffness or spasms appear, but over time, the condition worsens, causing posture to become crooked, difficulty walking, and pain severe enough to break bones. Additionally, mild touch, surrounding noises, or emotional stimuli can trigger spasms, making daily life difficult.
Jennifer also visited multiple hospitals while suffering from Stiff Person Syndrome. However, despite seeing many doctors, the cause of her condition was not identified, and her symptoms continued to worsen.
She told the media, "In 2016, my neuralgia worsened, and I underwent surgery to treat atrial fibrillation, but it was ineffective," adding, "I sought help from countless doctors, but even they could not explain my symptoms."
Currently, Jennifer is receiving medication to alleviate spasms and pain. While the treatment has been effective in improving symptoms, sudden pain can still occur.
Stiff Person Syndrome is a rare disease affecting about one in a million people. It is an incurable disease with no clear treatment method known to date. The best approach is to reduce the patient's suffering through medication such as muscle relaxants and neuroleptics.
The cause of the disease remains unknown, but experts consider it a type of autoimmune disorder.
Canadian pop star Celine Dion, who sang the theme song for the movie Titanic, recently revealed that she is also suffering from this disease, drawing sympathy. Her sister, Claudette Dion, said in a recent interview with the French media outlet 7 Jours, "Celine is working hard, but she has lost control over her muscles," adding, "What breaks my heart is that Celine has always trained and worked hard."
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