Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a congenital...

[Health and Medicine]

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a congenital condition that literally turns the connective tissue of those who suffer from it into bone, slowly seizing up their joints until finally they’re trapped inside their own body.

The bone growth is aggravated by damage to the soft tissue confounded by the fact that early symptoms look like fibrosis or cancer, coupled with the rarity of FOP means that doctors usually prescribe a biopsy which only hastens the bone growth.

Currently there is no known cure as removal of the growths only results in the body repairing the surrounding tissue with more bone, strangely the diaphragm and heart tissue is spared leaving sufferers condemned to a slow, tortuous existence.

Via