July 17, 2018
By Dr. Michael J. Cooney, Clinical Director
When complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is discussed, the primary focus is the extreme and widespread nerve pain caused by the disease.
The neuropathy can quickly affect mobility, being able to work or attend school, diminish socialization and decrease the overall quality of life.
In cases where the person’s CRPS has exacerbated over a long period of time, some people develop skin abnormalities which can take on varying presentations and can also cause a great deal of discomfort.
For some people, the skin issues result in blisters or lesions that do not heal.
CRPS Skin Manifestations
Approximately 71 percent of patients with CRPS for a duration of at least five years have skin manifestations in varying degrees of severity.
These skin changes usually present in the combination of a rash, mottling, cyanosis or erythema resulting in circular lesions generally up to one inch in diameter.
Some patients’ lesions appear as spontaneous recurring bruises which may or may not be near the pain site/s.
During the course of the condition, the skin can also become shiny and highly sensitive to touch, or even the wind.
Fingernails are ridged, thin, and break easily. Overall, there may also be eventual muscle atrophy (weakness).
In addition to CRPS-specific changes, patients may also experience often have concomitant venous stasis (slow blood flow in the veins, usually the legs), cellulitis (a bacterial infection under the skin surface characterized by redness, warmth, swelling and soreness), and skin ulceration.
Calmare’s Role in Healing Skin Lesions
I have performed Calmare Therapy since 2011. About 40 percent percent of our RSD / CRPS patients arrive at our clinic with some kind of skin abnormality.
The cause of these skin blisters / lesions or malformations is unclear, but my opinion is that they may be attributed to the ongoing result of brain misinterpretation or ongoing blood flow issues.
While we are not sure of the etiology, we have seen a surprisingly rapid decrease (healing) of these skin issues in CRPS patients for whom Calmare is successful.
As you can see from the examples below, the results are very significant after just a 2-week course of 10 Calmare Therapy treatment sessions.
Bridget (name changed for patient privacy):
Bridget Overcomes Full Body CRPS Physical Side Effects with Calmare Pain Therapy
Before 10 scrambler therapy treatments performed over a 2-week period:
After undergoing 10 Calmare Therapy treatments:
Austin
This 18-year-old male patient had open sores on his affected areas for such a long period of time, he could not recall when they first presented.
Before 10 scrambler therapy treatments performed over a 2-week period:
After undergoing 10 Calmare Therapy treatments:
Have CRPS Treatment Efforts Failed You?
The majority of our patients have already tried all the medications, painful treatments, Ketamine, spinal cord stimulators (SCS), etc., without success.
But even with all these disappointments, they have not given up hope.
If you are battling CRPS, I will speak with you personally about your case and together, we will come to a mutual determination if Calmare might be a suitable therapy option for you.
Should you wish to speak with one of our CRPS patient volunteers who has already had Calmare Therapy, we will be happy to make a referral for you via our exclusive Patient-2-Patient program.
Feel free to contact me directly by calling (201) – 933-4440 or privately email us at Calmarenj@gmail.com.
We will reply to your message within 48 hours.
Until then, wishing you a low pain day, and many more on the road ahead.
July 18, 2018 at 10:04 am
I’ve started to get hives & allergic reaction for no reasons at all. Mainly in my legs and feet. So bad Ive had to be transported by ambulance to local hospital & admitted. Off course they couldn’t find out why. It even happened while in hospital. No rhyme or reason. Since this started I’ve also started to experience my BP going from maybe 103/75 to 138/89 you never know what it’ll be. The real low numbers are worring me & my PCP, but can’t figure out why it’s happening either.
Any ideas that might help?
Appreciate any suggestions…
July 20, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Dear Rick,
I appreciate you reaching out to us. I preface this with the commentary that I have not seen your medical records nor do I know your history. However, based upon your comments above, your condition appears to be more of a systemic issue, which would not be well suited to Calmare scrambler therapy, I am sorry to say.
A high-quality internist, who can diagnose a comprehensive blood work-up, is the first place to start to see what is happening. I wish you every success and hope to hear of a positive treatment plan after diagnosis. Stay in touch and good luck! Dr, Michael Cooney, Clinical Director
July 17, 2018 at 4:40 pm
So many with CRPS/RSD have responded well to Calmare therapy. Thank you for continuing to share the hope of this breakthrough therapy. We need insurance coverage, and more clinics doing the treatment as well as you & RI. Most of the others aren’t up to par, especially for such a sensitive, serious condition. It needs specialized training.
When Ketamine infusions first arrived to the states just over a decade ago, doctors turned their nose up to it. It was still experimental and insurance wouldn’t cover it– inexpensive! A couple of the leading pain doctors in the country began running small, and through patient word of mouth, and demand/appeal of insurance, ketamine infusions became one of the CRPS treatments pain doctors utilize. I watched ketamine infusions gain traction and want to see scrambler therapy become a standard CRPS treatment in pain offices around the US! We need it!
July 17, 2018 at 4:43 pm
Correction: “expensive” (not inexpensive)
July 20, 2018 at 3:09 pm
I could not agree with you more! We are seeing some medical insurers beginning to realize that scrambler therapy is far, far less expensive that years of prescription medications to reimburse (coupled with the fact that they often don’t lessen pain). Thanks for your comments!