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# Meet the Birmingham artist living with "man on fire" syndrome
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/meet-the-birmingham-artist-living-with-man-on-fire-syndrome/
- Published: 2021-01-17T18:23:41.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-14T10:00:54.000Z
- Author: Tom Fair
- Tags: Charity, Health, News, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

A Birmingham artist is on a mission - to teach people about her invisible illness.

Charlotte lives with [**erythromelalgia (EM**)](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erythromelalgia/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), also known as "man on fire" syndrome, which makes parts of her body swell up with an intense burning pain.

"My hands feel like there are **burning hot coals** being pressed into them," Charlotte says.

"Even when the pain goes down, my fingers are still incredibly stiff. I have **multiple flareups daily**, and it makes it very difficult to stand and walk, or do anything with my hands."

![A piece of art, showing EM flareup points on the body](https://storage.ghost.io/c/63/9b/639bf577-7ed7-44fe-8d64-ac66eaeee42e/content/images/2026/08/empic.jpg)

A piece of art, showing various pain points on the body. Credit - Charlotte Robinson

Charlotte's first flareups started about ten years ago. When she first visited a doctor about it, they didn't know what was wrong. Eventually, she found the name for her condition - erythromelalgia.

"I was really worried about this strange thing happening in my hands during a school exam, and not being able to write."

"A flareup in my hands makes my fingers swell up and burn, and I find it hard to grip anything."

"It makes it hard to be an artist and a writer!"

Watch a day in Charlotte's life below -

Footage credit - Charlotte Robinson

## What is erythromelalgia?

[EM can be a **genetic condition**](https://erythromelalgia.org/resources/faqs/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), or have **no identifiable cause**. It can also be a symptom of other health issues with the blood, nerves, or immune system.

Very few studies have been done on EM. Anywhere between **1.3 to 15 in every 100,000 people** have it, with women almost **4 times more likely** to have the condition than men.

The symptoms of EM are usually caused by a change of body temperature, but can also be caused by stress, drinking alcohol, eating spicy food, or dehydration.

Flareups can last anywhere between a few minutes, to a few days.

[Medicines](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erythromelalgia/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) can help to relieve the symptoms of EM.

## What is being done?

Charlotte has starting making face masks with a friend to raise money for EM research.

US-based [The Erythromelalgia Association](https://erythromelalgia.org/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) helps to fund research into EM, and promote awareness for the EM community.

There is no cure, but charities like [Pain Concern](https://painconcern.org.uk/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) can help with awareness and support for those living with chronic pain conditions.