I wanted to share my knowledge of this condition from the eyes of a practitioner who had to draw on self-expertise in the healthcare field to set up success to navigate toward better management my condition.

I have over two decades of experience as a healthcare practitioner in a regulated profession and more recently as a Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Counselor which helped me to navigate my health better, namely my CRPS. I originally feared the condition but through education on better lifestyle management, I was able to overcome many obstacles and manage my pain better.

Unfortunately, many with this condition don’t understand what is happening to them and often seek help late in the game. If one follows a targeted approach to get better, life will be easier and focus can be given to the body and mind to heal at home. I list steps in my video that place emphasis on the necessity to assess the health terrain of the patient for a better outcome. We need our medical team, but when our body and lifestyle management are in check we have a better chance at healing.

Every condition has root cause(s) and the functional field helps a patient to become more aware of not only the food they ingest but also lifestyle biometrics that must be paid attention to help resolve symptoms. Every chronic pain condition can follow this method and each of us can breathe a little easier when we find the right tools that resonate with us. We just need a little help and that’s where I come in to form that needed empathetic bridge.

In addition, when you have someone to discuss your health terrain with, more self-accountability is realized and steps are easier knowing you have someone in your corner. With chronic pain, take one day at a time and know that feeling better is a step away. You’ve got this. Hang in there.

Michael J. Fox stated that “the experts in the field are the ones who live with the condition”. Until one steps into the shoes of someone with chronic pain, one can not understand the fear that happens when they are told that their condition is not treatable or that nothing can be done. Know that something can always be done and hang on to the knowledge that CRPS has been labeled inflammatory and autoimmune in nature which is where I believe that Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle can make every bit of difference to our outcomes.