Paige Collette Describes How Physical Intimacy Led to Days of Recovery

Paige Collette’s appearance on Vince Russo’s live show took a turn no one expected, shifting from wrestling talk to a deeply personal discussion about living with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) and how it’s impacted every part of her life, including intimacy.

While explaining how severe her condition is, Paige revealed she spent years avoiding all physical contact while fighting to survive, relearn how to walk, and manage constant pain. She described that period as total isolation from touch and relationships, not by choice, but because of what her body could tolerate.

“For the seven years… I was never touched. I was celibate. Getting out of the wheelchair, learning how to walk again, losing the weight… I wasn’t touched.”

As she’s tried to reclaim pieces of normal life, even small steps have come with serious consequences. Paige explained that she recently allowed herself to experience intimacy again, starting with something as simple as a kiss.

“I decided to let a boy kiss me… and even that hurt. My mouth hurt for three days.”

Later in the conversation, she went further to explain just how extreme the physical aftermath can be when she tries to participate in basic human experiences that most people take for granted.

“I will be public right now and say this… I performed oral sex on a guy this year, and I had to recover for three solid days in bed.”

Paige framed the moment not for shock value, but as part of her larger mission to be honest about what life with CRPS actually looks like. Her goal, she said, is to encourage others living with serious illness to still recognize their humanity.

“I tell people with sickness — be human. You have desires, you have needs, you are allowed to be human.”

Her comments hit hard because they came alongside everything else she shared that day: surviving homelessness, being wheelchair-bound, fighting for years without a diagnosis, and still pushing forward in wrestling and advocacy despite pain she describes as constant.

What do you think about Paige choosing to be this open about her life and struggles, and do you believe this kind of honesty helps change how people understand chronic illness?