'She’d scream through the night in pain': Former Page 3 girl Michelle Marsh details her daughter's battle with rare disease that leaves her in constant agony

  • The 39-year-old's daughter, 14, suffers with a chronic nerve disease called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  • The condition leaves people in extreme discomfort that does not ease and has no known cure
  • Things got so bad for her daughter, who was a keen dancer and skateboarder, that the teen had begged to have her leg amputated
  • Michelle, who shot to fame in the 2000s as a tabloid newspaper Page 3 model, shares two other children with retired Scottish footballer Will Haining, 39 

By Niomi Harris For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Former Page 3 girl Michelle Marsh has opened up on her daughter Maddison's traumatic battle with a rare disease that leaves her in constant agony.

The 39-year-old's daughter, 14, suffers with a chronic nerve disease called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), which leaves people in extreme discomfort that does not ease and which has no known cure. 

And speaking in a new interview, the ex glamour model detailed her daughter's pain which would lead her to 'scream through the night in pain', with things so bad that the teen had begged to have her leg amputated.

Upsetting: Former Page 3 girl Michelle Marsh has opened up on her daughter Maddison's traumatic battle with a rare disease that leaves her in constant agony ~9pictured with husband Will in 2007)

Upsetting: Former Page 3 girl Michelle Marsh has opened up on her daughter Maddison's traumatic battle with a rare disease that leaves her in constant agony ~9pictured with husband Will in 2007)

Maddison, who was a keen dancer and skateboarder, first began showing symptoms back in March 2021, complaining that her leg felt like it was 'was on fire', reports The Sun.

At the time, Michelle - who shares two other children with retired Scottish footballer Will Haining, 39 - brushed off her daughter's claims, until the teen began limping in pain. 

She explained to the publication: 'At first we kind of brushed it off, but as the week went on Maddison started to limp going to school. On the Friday she phoned me crying, saying, "I’m in agony". She couldn’t walk. She was scared'.

Issue: The 39-year-old's daughter, 14, suffers with a chronic nerve disease called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

 Issue: The 39-year-old's daughter, 14, suffers with a chronic nerve disease called complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

Happy family: Michelle with daughter Maddison in an undated Facebook photo

Happy family: Michelle with daughter Maddison in an undated Facebook photo 

Family: Former Page 3 girl Michelle with Will Haining and baby Maddison in 2007

Family: Former Page 3 girl Michelle with Will Haining and baby Maddison in 2007

After weeks of tests and no closer to the truth, Maddison had to endure excruciating pain, which left her unable to sleep.

Her mother added of her ordeal: 'She’d scream through the night in pain. She was asking to have a leg amputated, something she still says today. But there’s no guarantee it will stop the pain because it’s the brain signals and nerves that are causing the problems.'

However, a year later, Maddison's agony was still not over as the teen's right leg went numb and paralyzed in January, while her left leg has tremors. 

Agony: the ex glamour model detailed her daughter's pain which would lead her to 'scream through the night in pain', with things so bad that the teen had begged to have her leg amputated

Agony: the ex glamour model detailed her daughter's pain which would lead her to 'scream through the night in pain', with things so bad that the teen had begged to have her leg amputated

The Sun reports that Maddison's condition has now spread to her organs and leaves her struggling to eat, while medics have also diagnosed Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), in which brain signals have difficulty reaching the body.

Thought Maddison receives 'intensive treatment' from the NHS, Michelle and husband Wil are keen for their daughter to have specialist treatment including  occupational therapy and hydrotherapy, while they want her to also have a private physio.

Michelle, who was a popular Page 3 model in the 2000s and sportsman Will have been fundraising, with a JustGiving page seeing them raise almost £15,000 so far.

Former career: Michelle's glamour days saw her pose for lads mags including Nuts, Maxim and Zoo, while she was often paired up with fellow glamour model Lucy Pinder for racy shoots (Lucy and Michelle pictured in 2004)

Former career: Michelle's glamour days saw her pose for lads mags including Nuts, Maxim and Zoo, while she was often paired up with fellow glamour model Lucy Pinder for racy shoots (Lucy and Michelle pictured in 2004)

The blonde beauty added: 'I hope my fundraising will help others. We’re in this together. It’s not impossible for Maddison to get better. She can recover and have a normal life.'

Michelle regularly graced Page 3 of tabloid newspapers, having shot to fame age jus 18 after coming second in The Sun's 'National Cleavage Week' contest in 2001 before going on to win Daily Star's 'Search for a Babe' the following year.

She went on to have an extensive glamour modelling career, posing for lads mags including Nuts, Maxim and Zoo, while she was often paired up with fellow glamour model Lucy Pinder for racy shoots.

WHAT IS COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that causes extreme discomfort that does not ease.

It usually affects just one arm or leg following an earlier injury, such as a fracture or sprain with no nerve damage, or nerve damage to a limb.

The body's reaction is much stronger than usual and often causes pain worse than the original injury.

CRPS' exact prevalence is unclear, however, a study claimed up to one in 3,800 people in the UK develop the condition each year.

And in the US, between 5.5 and 26.2 people suffer from CRPS per 100,000 every year. 

What are the symptoms?  

Pain is the main symptom, which may be burning, stabbing, stinging or throbbing.

The affected limb is usually sensitive to touch, with even clothing causing agony.

CRPS also causes swelling that can lead to stiffness, limb weakness and jerky movements. Joints may also appear redder or warmer than usual.

Many CRPS patients become anxious or depressed. 

What causes CRPS? 

CRPS' cause is unclear but is thought to be due to the nerves in the affected area becoming more sensitive, which may change the pain pathways between the limb and the brain.

Rarely, stroke or multiple operations to the limb can be to blame.  

In one out of 10 cases there is no obvious cause. 

What are patients' treatment options? 

There is no one treatment. Therapies aim to maintain movement through rehabilitation and pain relief.

This may include physio and occupational therapies, coping strategies and medications. 

Source: Versus Arthritis 

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