Sickle Cell Crisis

A sickle cell crisis is a painful episode that may begin suddenly in a person who has sickle cell disease. A sickle cell crisis occurs when sickle-shaped red blood cells clump together and block small blood vessels that carry blood to certain organs, muscles, and bones. This causes mild to severe pain. The pain can last from hours to days. "Painful event" and "painful crisis" are other terms used to describe these episodes. Some people who have sickle cell disease have many painful events, while others have few or none. The pain can happen in any part of the body. But the most common areas include the: • Bones of the spine • Bones in the arms and legs • Chest • Abdomen   Abstract source