A TEENAGER living on the outskirts of Taunton has been in unimaginable pain 24/7 for the past four years after tripping during a crosscountry run.

A previously sporty youngster, Alfie Walton, 15, is now unable to walk, spends most of his time in bed and is fed through a tube in his stomach, which causes even more pain.

It is too painful for him to wear trousers, socks or shoes and his feet randomly swell up and turn purple for days or weeks on end, while burning red patches appear without warning.

He is left screaming in agony if his legs are touched by a feather, wind or rain. He has lost the use of his right arm.

He needs to be sedated to sleep at night.

"It's absolutely horrendous," said his mother, Hannah Walton.

"He's on a few medications to manage his severe pain, but they don't work for him.

"It all started when he twisted his ankle in a little hole in the ground during a crosscountry run.

"He tore the lateral ligament in his foot and doctors said it would be eight weeks for him to get better."

Instead, the pain increased and Alfie, who has three siblings, was eventually diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a condition associated with the imbalance and malfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

He has been admitted to Musgrove Park Hospital on a number of occasions and spent five months there last year.

Alfie is no longer able to attend Kingsmead School, in Wiveliscombe, where he was in his first year at the time of his accident. Instead he follows an online schooling course, but can only manage two 30-minute sessions a week.

Hannah added: "A couple of friends have stuck by him, but he doesn't see many people.

"He's always so tired.

"Prior to his accident, he was so full of life.

"He loved sport and was doing brilliantly at school with so much potential.

"It’s is truly heartbreaking that CRPS has taken practically everything from him.

"CRPS is classed as the most painful chronic pain condition that is known. It reaches approx 42 out of 50 on the McGill Pain Scale, higher than non-terminal cancer, higher than amputation of a finger without anaesthesia, and the pain is constant."

Later this month, Hannah is taking Alfie to a specialist in Texas who has created a "magic machine" called VECTTOR.

Following a month of daily appointments with the doctor, they will fly home with the machine, pinning their hope on it putting Alfie in remission and leaving him pain free.

"When I heard about it, we had to go. Alfie can't carry on living like this," said Hannah.

"Whether he will be able to walk again remains to be seen, but to be free of the debilitating pain will give him back so much quality of life.

"I used to think I was blessed with four fine children all growing up, then this hit. I never imagined what it was going to be like.

"We've got to do this for him."

A GoFundMe appeal has so far raised almost £25,000 towards the costs of flying and staying in Texas, as well as medical fees once there.

Family and friends, as well as complete strangers have rallied round. If you would like to support Alfie's quest to get better, click HERE.