A teenager who is battling a disorder has been rewarded for her determination.

Wheelchair-bound Charlotte Topliss spends every day in excruciating pain as a sufferer of the relatively-unknown condition Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Disorder (RSDD).

The incurable disorder involves hyper-sensitivity of the sensory nerves which causes pains and can cause immobility.

The 13-year-old, of Priestthorpe Lane, Bingley, who used to enjoy sports including football and canoeing, joined Eldwick 2nd Guide group as an opportunity to get out.

And because of her courage and determination she was awarded a certificate commemorating her merits from the North East England Guide Association.

"It was a complete surprise," said Charlotte. "I do try to go to the meetings as often as I can but a lot of the time it's too difficult. The thing I miss most is being able to go out and it's awful not being able to see my friends as often as I'd like."

Charlotte contracted the condition after a fall when she was eight years old. Now she takes at least 17 tablets a day and doses of morphine on bad days to try to control the pain.

She has been in and out of hospital for the past five years and regularly attends the Pain Unit at Sheffield Children's Hospital where she sees a team of specialists.

She lost all feeling in her right arm after a fall from her wheelchair while playing basketball last year. After the accident she spent months in hospital and almost died after failing to respond successfully to treatment.

Her mother Pam, who gave up her job as a dental nurse to care for Charlotte, said: "We nearly lost her last year, it was dreadful time. The pain she was in was so extensive she had to be knocked out."

Charlotte, a pupil at Beckfoot School until travelling became too difficult, said Irish boy band Westlife and Bradford pop idol Gareth Gates kept her spirits up. "I went to see Westlife in concert at Sheffield Arena and it was great but afterwards I was in agony because of the vibrations caused by the music," she said. As she was right-handed Charlotte learned to use her left hand and now makes bracelets, which are on sale at Moonflower, in Mains Street, Bingley, in aid of the unit at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

Dr John Goddard, consultant in paediatric pain management at the hospital, said: "It may be that she will be left with some kind of disability, or possibly, completely recover but there is always the chance it will come back in the future," he said. "The pain is excruciatingly unpleasant and because people can't see it others tend to think they're making it up.