Only 13,000 documented cases of Behcet’s disease exist in the United States, and one of them belongs to Neil Melanson, the head grappling coach at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas.

The rare autoimmune disorder has already left the 33-year-old Sturbridge, Mass., native blind in one eye and deaf in one ear. Chronic pain remains a constant companion.

In Behcet’s patients, an overactive immune system fails to recognize various parts of the body and attacks them as a result. Physical exhaustion and stress can trigger flare-ups. No known cure exists for the disorder, and the effectiveness of treatment can vary.

Melanson went completely blind in both eyes for two months back in 2005. Doctors eventually placed him on Remicade, an experimental treatment. It worked wonders.

Still, Melanson has to strike a constant balance between fulfilling his duties at one of the world’s most prominent MMA gyms and keeping himself healthy and out of harm’s way. A former power lifter, he can no longer hit the weights, as the risks associated with overexertion far outweigh the benefits. Melanson even avoids jogging.

I can’t train too much, he says. I can grapple a couple times a week, and I can teach, but I have to eat well and sleep well and take very good care of myself. If I overtax my body, I can get really, really sick. I have a very complicated health lifestyle.

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