For Kyle Richardson, surfing is more than a sport. It represents freedom, connection and a determination to keep moving forward. The 42-year-old former commercial photographer grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and later moved to Nazaré in Portugal, a coastal town known around the world for its powerful waves. As an enthusiastic surfer, he spent much of his free time in the water. But exposure to a waterborne bacteria, as well as accidents and infections, changed the course of his life.
Kyle developed Acute Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological condition that can cause weakness, loss of sensation and problems with movement. The resulting damage left him paralysed from the waist down and living with persistent pain in his hands, feet and back.
When pain shaped every decision
“It’s hard to convey how much things changed,” Kyle says. As his condition progressed, Kyle was prescribed increasingly stronger pain medication, which also had an impact on his overall well-being. “The pain killers kept getting stronger and stronger,” he says. “I felt like a zombie.”
Chronic pain began to influence almost every part of Kyle’s life. Everyday decisions became difficult, and making plans with other people felt almost impossible. “I could not make plans to meet friends, since I did not know how I would be feeling in the evening,” he says.
Exploring spinal cord stimulation
In 2016, Kyle underwent a trial of spinal cord stimulation to help manage his chronic pain. Spinal cord stimulation uses a small, implanted device to send mild electrical signals to the spinal cord. These signals are intended to modify pain messages before they reach the brain. (Learn more about the technology in this article).
Kyle says he noticed a difference already during the trial period. “I could feel the difference straight away,” he recalls. “That first morning when I was able to wake up without feeling pain, it was life changing.” Over time, he began to regain parts of the independence that chronic pain had taken from him.
Returning to the water
During Kyle’s darkest days, returning to surfing seemed unimaginable. “Never in a million years did I think I would be surfing again,” he says. But he made it back into the water - and not only did he manage to get back onto the surfboard, in 2020 Kyle set a world record for the biggest wave surfed by a person with paraplegia. Yet he says the value of managing his pain extends far beyond achievements in the water. “I have a new life now,” he says. “Being able to enjoy a coffee, meet up with friends, make plans for the future - that freedom is priceless.”
Kyle’s experience has also changed the way he thinks about resilience and happiness. “Happiness is earned, not guaranteed,” he says. “Even in your darkest hours, you need to know that the sun will rise again. There is a life beyond pain.”
To learn more about chronic pain, available treatment options and other patient experiences, visit Living Beyond Chronic Pain: Kyle’s Story | Control Your Pain.
Find out more about Kyle's experience by watching the video below: