THERE IS HOPE

THERE IS HOPE

” And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ”


1 Peter 5:10

Those of you living with CRPS know what a hopeless state life can become. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is flat out the most painful chronic pain condition in the world. The McGill University Pain Index gives CRPS pain around a 42/50. This is the index doctors use to gauge the intensity of someone's pain. At a 45 index this puts CRPS pain ahead of: Amputation of a finger or Toe (without anesthesia), childbirth, and bone break/fracture to just name a few. CRPS Type 2 can reach as high as 47/50

McGILL Pain Index and Mechanism of RSD or CRPS

Many people who have this disease don’t even know they have it, and like me will spend months or years going from doctor to doctor without ever getting real help. Is it any wonder CRPS is known as the suicide disease? It’s not that these doctors are incapable of helping, it’s just most only treat the symptoms and don’t understand the root cause of these symptoms and therefore never really can offer true long lasting relief. Now, I’m not saying you won’t find any help or relief from these doctors or the medications they can prescribe. Even I found a little relief from some of my symptoms through medication but nothing long lasting. Is there anyone out there who knows what is going on with my body and can help!!!


I am happy to say that I have definitely found such and place and a doctor who knows just what to do. The story of how I finally found the help I needed makes me both smile and cry each time I think about it.


In the early spring of 2018, my husband came home and told me about a family friend who was dealing with terrible pain in his feet. It had gotten so bad that he had stopped working and was even bed ridden for a time. It had totally and completely disabled him. A few months later we learned that he had found a doctor that helped him, and he was almost completely cured and back to working and living a normal life again. The thing was that the doctor who helped him was practicing in our hometown just 8 miles down the road.



We didn't really think much of it at the time because what I was dealing with was attacking my entire body and not just my feet. I thought others must have something completely different than me.  A few months went on, the pain got worse, our desperation increased, until one day Matt sought out guidance.

We began conversation talking about a doctor and staff who understood what patients were going through and could help. We were loaned the book; “Putting Out The Fire – New Hope for RSD/CRPS“.


I’ll be honest and say that Matt had been getting more excited about this doctor. I wasn’t sold. Remember, I said I was a definer, and he is a researcher and gathers the facts first. Plus, I had gotten my hopes up so many times before and been let down. I wasn’t rushing into anything. The book sat next to my bed for a week.


When I did finally pick it up, I didn’t expect to learn more than I had already heard from over 5 years of seeing doctors. What I got was much more. It gave me explanation, it gave me insight, it gave me understanding, IT GAVE ME HOPE! This doctor was writing exactly about what I had been going through. You could have put my name in the title of the book so it read “Putting Out The Fire – New Hope For Heather’s CRPS”.  This book was written for me! For the first time in almost 6 years, I began to think there was something that could be done about my pain, and I finally had a name for it; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. The author of this book was none other than the doctor who our friend had gone to see, Dr. Katinka van der Merwe.

Putting Out The Fire New Hope for RSD/CRPS by Dr. Katinka van der Merwe

Over a few months in the fall of 2018 Matt had several conversations with Anna from the Neurological Relief Center. (Now The SPERO Clinic) Several times he described what I had been dealing with. She was gracious and patient with him and answered all his questions. She assured him that what he was describing is what they treat at the clinic, but I would need to come and see them to be sure. We were probably still a little skeptical, it’s hard changing doctors and “starting over” with someone new. Could this really be it? Could it be this easy? Had the answer to our prayers all these years been 8 miles down the road all this time?! Anna then said the words that took away all doubt, “The very fact that we are even talking on the phone right now tells me you need to get Heather here”.


In November 2018 we scheduled my start date with the Neurological Relief Center in Fayetteville, AR. (Now The SPERO Clinic) I would start the following May of 2019. Needless to say, it was the best decision I could have made.  I went through 12 weeks of intense therapy 4 days a week and I emerged on the other side a completely different person.


My Ringing The Bell Ceremony

This day was surreal.  For years I didn't think I would ever be able to be at this moment.  This was my ceremony for "Ringing The Bell."  This signifies the completion of treatment at The Spero Clinic and lets the world know you have met your goals.  This was by far one of the most difficult 12 weeks of my life.  When treating C.R.P.S. you will literally awaken the beast.  They tell you this on day one.  When you are ready to be done with C.R.P.S. you will do whatever it takes to beat it.  This clinic knows how to do battle with this terrible disease.

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