A Fibromyalgia and CRPS Diagnosis—and How I Fought My Way Back to Better Health

For more than six years, my body felt like it was breaking down without explanation.

It began with mysterious “injuries” tied to the smallest things—minor missteps that caused major pain, injuries that took forever to heal, and persistent itching and burning sensations that appeared out of nowhere. Test after test revealed no breaks, no tears, no clear cause. I went through years of blood work, urine tests, scans, diet plans—everything imaginable. And yet, I still felt awful.

In 2021, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

When I asked how this could have happened, the answers were vague and frustrating: age, perimenopause, stress, diet, years of tennis and sports as a kid, environmental factors, even my job. And when I asked what could be done? The answer was essentially: manage the symptoms and learn to live with it.

That wasn’t good enough for me.

Discovering Light Therapy—and a Turning Point

Around the time my symptoms first began—more than three years ago—I discovered red and infrared light therapy. To my surprise, it helped me dramatically manage my Fibromyalgia symptoms. My pain became more tolerable, my recovery improved, and for the first time, I felt like I had some control over my body again.

The results were significant enough that I wanted to understand why it worked. That curiosity turned into purpose. I became a Certified Light Therapist, not only to educate myself, but to help others find relief from chronic pain and inflammation when traditional options had fallen short. And it has been personally fulfilling and truly a joy to help others find relief with red light therapy over the years!

For a while, light therapy helped me manage too—but it didn’t stop what came next.

When Everything Got Worse

Over the next few years, my world slowly shrank. I repeatedly injured my ankles. I stopped working out regularly. I gave up pickleball with my daughter. By late afternoon, I avoided making plans because I never knew whether my body would cooperate. I canceled on friends so often that my circle grew smaller. I hid how bad things were, isolated myself, and carried it all quietly.

Then, in November 2024, I rolled my ankle. And in December, I rolled it again—this time while putting up and taking down Christmas lights. But this injury was different. My ankle twisted so far I was convinced it was broken. Shockingly, the X-ray came back negative. I was placed in a boot and told to stay off it, but the pain inside that boot was unbearable. Trusting my instincts, I stopped wearing it—a decision that may have prevented even more damage.

Despite rest, the ankle only worsened. I pushed for answers. Doctor after doctor. Test after test. Nothing explained why I wasn’t healing. Eventually, I was referred to physical therapy—a suggestion that felt absurd given I was now on crutches and barely able to walk.

That appointment changed everything.

The CRPS Diagnosis

My physical therapist immediately recognized the signs of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) using the Budapest Criteria. He contacted my doctor, and I was rushed in for a three-phase bone scan, which confirmed the diagnosis.

I was overwhelmed.

CRPS is often referred to as the “suicide disease,” and the online support groups painted a terrifying picture. The condition spread rapidly into my left leg. I was forced to take a leave of absence from work. I could barely walk and was dangerously close to a wheelchair.

The medical recommendations were bleak: strong pain medications and repeated nerve blocks. Temporary relief. No real solutions.

I refused to accept that this was the end of my story.

Discovering Scrambler Therapy—and Getting My Life Back

I researched everything—medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, infusions, Spero Clinic, Neridronate infusions in Italy, and alternative therapies. And that’s when I discovered Calmare Scrambler Therapy.

I walked into my first appointment on crutches.

By day six, I no longer needed them.

Scrambler Therapy is a non-invasive neuromodulation treatment designed to retrain dysfunctional nerve signals. It replaces pain messages with normal, non-pain signals, essentially “re-mapping” how the nervous system communicates. It is FDA-certified, and as I researched further, I noticed something remarkable: many success stories involved patients with both fibromyalgia and CRPS.

For me, Scrambler Therapy was the reset my nervous system desperately needed. My pain intensity dropped dramatically, my mobility improved, and I finally felt hope again.

I required more than a month of treatment initially and I still receive periodic boosters—but it gave me my life back.

From Patient to Practitioner

This journey didn’t just heal my body—it changed my direction.

I was already working part time as a Certified Light Therapy and I saw firsthand how complementary the two therapies can be. But after seeing firsthand how powerful neuromodulation and integrative therapies could be, I made the decision to completely change careers. I became a Functional Medicine Practitioner and opened my own practice, where I now help others navigate chronic pain conditions like Fibromyalgia and CRPS. I also provide scrambler therapy services alongside Dr. Damon Orlando, one of the more experienced scrambler therapy providers in the country.

Today, I combine:

• Scrambler Therapy education and guidance
• Red and infrared light therapy
• Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Stress and nervous system regulation techniques

Because chronic pain is never just physical—it’s neurological, emotional, and systemic.

You Are Not Alone

Living with Fibromyalgia and CRPS is incredibly challenging—but my experience proves that hope, healing, and relief are possible. There are options beyond symptom management. There are ways to retrain the nervous system and reclaim your life.

I offer free consultations for individuals exploring treatment options or looking for guidance on their healing journey.

👉 Schedule your free consultation here

You are not alone—and better days are possible.