A Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Diagnosis and How I Fought My Way Back to Better Health!

I had been struggling for 3 years. Mystery “injuries” that seemed to be tied to the smallest things, injuries that seemed to take forever to heal, strange pain and burning out of no where. Test after test revealed no breaks, tears, or other injuries that would explain why my body was continually breaking down on me. I spent over two years on blood and urine tests, scans, diet plans, you name it. And yet, I still felt terrible! My doctor had finally diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis in 2021 and what could I do about it? Pretty much nothing! The best part, when I asked how this happened to me, she said it was likely due to my age, perimenopause, diet, stress, environmental factors, even my job!

So life went on. For the next few years, I was miserable. My life slowly degraded, I injured my ankles repeatedly, ended up stopping my regular workouts, pickleball with my daughter and just about any activity after 4pm because I could not predict if my body would be able to push through or not. My friends list got short due to the constant cancellations. I was hiding it from everyone, secluding myself and holding it all in.

Then in November of 2024, after rolling my ankle for the millionth time, I rolled it yet again while putting up Christmas lights. But this time it was different. It was a doozy. My ankle rolled like gumby, I didn’t realize it could turn that far to the side so I was convinced it was broken. But the initial x-ray came back negative! I was put in a boot and told to stay off it for a few weeks. But the pain in that boot was unbearable so I did not keep it in the boot (turned out to be a lifesaver decision!). I kept pushing back, asking for answers. My doctor finally referred me to a Physical Therapist, which seemed like a terrible idea considering I was on crutches and could barely walk by this point. In fact, things just seemed to keep getting worse! Doctor after doctor and test after test gave no answers. Why wasn't my ankle getting better?

Many drugs had been prescribed, but there were no real answers for what was happening to me. The only thing that had been working for me at home was red and infrared light therapy and it just wasn’t enough on it’s own. Luckily my physical therapist noticed the tell tale signs of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) by the Budapest Criteria and alerted my doctor. After a 3 phase bone scan confirmed it, I finally knew I had CRPS. But now what?

It turns out that physical therapy appointment was a worthwhile trip. As soon as he saw me and we discussed my symptoms, he immediately told me I had CRPS. He called my doctor and got me in for a 3 phase bone scan right away to confirm the diagnosis. It all happened so fast, I had little time to process what it all meant. I was told it was called the “suicide disease” and the support groups I had found made it sound quite dire! I felt overwhelmed, alone and desperate for treatment options. I was forced to take a leave of absence from work as I was unable to perform my duties anymore. I was unable to walk and I was very close to a wheelchair. The CRPS had quickly spread into my left leg and it was beginning to feel helpless.

The doctors wanted me to take a bunch of pain medications and get a nerve block every few months. That was their answer. Those options were band aids and none of them were the answers I was looking for so I began a desperate path of exploration—medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, infusions, and alternative therapies. You name it, I researched it! I had led a once very active lifestyle and I wasn't ready to give up on it just yet! 

My breakthrough came when I discovered Calmare Scrambler Therapy. My life changed forever. I walked into the office on crutches, but by day 6 of treatment, I no longer needed crutches anymore! It was truly a miracle! So what in the heck is Calmare Scrambler Therapy! It is a non-invasive neuromodulation treatment designed to “retrain” nerve signals and disrupt pain pathways, The device uses electrical signals to replace pain signals with normal, soothing signals, effectively “re-mapping” nerve activity. Learn more here!

It is FDA certified and I discovered many success stories, particularly with finding relief from both fibromyalgia and CRPS symptoms! Go figure! For me, Calmare Scrambler Therapy helped reset those painful nerve pathways, significantly decreasing both my pain and overall pain intensity. It was the reset I needed to get back to my life again! 

I ended up needing well over a month of Calmare Scrambler Therapy and I still need boosters periodically, but it has allowed me to get back to my life again! And I have expanded my pain management toolkit and now use pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as well as vagus nerve stimulation and meditation exercises to reduce stress, increase my feelings of happiness, and shift my brain and nervous system into a healthy state!

Seeing how all of these therapies and modalities have transformed my healing journey, I have chosen to change my career and follow my passion for helping others. I am harnessing the lessons I have learned, the research and collaboration with others, and I am opening up a practice in 2026 to help others like myself overcome chronic pain conditions like CRPS. I have become a functional medicine practitioner because I believe traditional medicine has failed us. I am also a Certified Light Therapist and I own a light therapy company so I have the opportunity to partner with doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to bring a more comprehensive approach to treating CRPS and other chronic pain conditions. Living with CRPS is undeniably challenging, but my experience has shown me that hope, healing, and relief are achievable. If you're interested in exploring treatment options, I welcome you to reach out. Together, we can find a path toward sustained pain relief and hope for better days. You are not alone!