Recognizing and managing emotions can be challenging for anyone. It can be especially difficult for those of us who are working on managing emotions and our chronic pain at the same time. Regardless of how difficult our feelings can be to manage, they can influence how we feel and how we cope with pain. Some…
Managing time and setting priorities is difficult whether you are sick or not. Everyone seems to be too busy to get things done. Some of you may have noticed that you rush around at the last minute to do something you need to do because you didn’t plan your day. Many of you have also…
Positive thoughts or affirmations can help you move away from negative, unproductive thoughts and help you make positive changes in your life. These changes can help you reach your goals and most likely feel better. It’s true that many of us tend to focus on the things we can’t do. We even focus on the…
Creating change is hard for so many of us, especially when living with chronic pain. While we can’t always change our circumstances or how we feel, we can make choices each day that may help improve our quality of life. We also have to recognize that our attitude and the choices we make, along with…
Since 1994, I have been dealing with chronic pain, and I like to say that I have come to understand what pain is, how it can affect us, and what we can learn from it. What we do know about pain is that some pain and suffering are unavoidable, and some can be prevented or relieved naturally….
January 2014 – It has been 20 years since I had my injury that resulted in RSD | CRPS Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), previously known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). It’s been 20 years, and I have survived living with RSD / CRPS. I am also 20 years older, and I would like to…
Updated 2026: I originally shared this presentation in 2014 after listening to Dr. Pradeep Chopra discuss RSD/CRPS treatment options and the different approaches being used to manage the condition. Although the presentation is older, many of the treatment options he discusses are still part of the conversation surrounding CRPS today. Treatment for RSD/CRPS is highly…
Trigger point therapy, which was developed by Bonnie Prudden, a myotherapist, uses no drugs and is a natural treatment option. If you have experienced unwanted side effects or severe reactions to pain medications or opioid medications, a drug-free pain relief option may be better for you. As you consider trigger point therapy, remember that your…
Can Calmare Therapy Help With RSD / CRPS? After receiving your diagnosis of reflex sympathetic dystrophy or complex regional pain syndrome (RSD / CRPS) and finding out that your pain would be chronic, your doctor may have discussed different treatment options for you. These might include medication, therapy (physical and talk), and the use of…
