A YOUNG North-East mother who was in danger of losing a leg to a rare disease is responding well to treatment in a US hospital.

Ann Teasdale has already had one leg amputated after contracting the rare condition Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS) following a bunion operation.

When the condition appeared in her other leg, family and friends raised £20,000 to send her to Texas to see specialist Dr Donald Rhodes.

Now, after a month of treatment at his clinic in Corpus Christi, Mrs Teasdale is beginning to get the feeling back in her leg.

Dr Rhodes has been gradually reducing Mrs Teasdale's medication, which he believes makes the condition worse.

She has been visiting his clinic every day for treatment, which includes special creams, magnets and a machine he has developed called a Dynatron.

Dr Rhodes has never had a patient who subsequently needed their leg amputated and has treated people with worse conditions than Mrs Teasdale.

Bill Blenkinsopp, who has co-ordinated the fundraising campaign, said Mrs Teasdale's husband Mick is upbeat about the progress made so far.

He said: "He thinks there has been a good improvement. Ann is only on one lot of tablets now and he is quite optimistic.

"Ann has got a bit of a pulse and some heat in her leg now, which she didn't have before and there is definitely something good happening."

Mrs Teasdale's daughter, Louise Fawcett, said her mother may soon be able to wear a prosthetic limb in place of her amputated leg.

She said: "My mum sounded a lot better when I last spoke to her. She is sleeping better and hopefully they are going to sort her out with a false leg.

"She couldn't wear one before because the stump was so badly swollen, but the treatment means she might be able to manage it now."

Although Dr Rhodes has put a cap of £10,000 on Mrs Teasdale's treatment, the cost of accommodation and living expenses will depend on how long the treatment takes.

For that reason, fundraising efforts are continuing. Anyone who would like to help is asked to contact Mr Blenkinsopp, on (01325) 308057.