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When a health condition has the word “complex” right in its name, it should come as no surprise that it can prove challenging to treat — and to live with. And that’s certainly the case with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Fortunately, new treatments can help improve your symptoms, especially when combined with complementary strategies.
Dr. Peter McAllister specializes in using ketamine infusion therapy for psychiatric and neurological disorders at Ki_Ketamine in Stamford and Westport, Connecticut.
Unlike other medications for CRPS, ketamine has proven extremely effective in treating this complex disorder. That’s because it blocks specific neurotransmitters in the brain. This encourages the formation of new neural pathways that bypass damage-triggering CRPS symptoms.
However, getting ketamine treatments is just one part of managing complex regional pain syndrome. Dr. McAllister also recommends incorporating these lifestyle adjustments into your treatment strategy.
1. Quit smoking
If you have complex regional pain syndrome, it’s essential to quit smoking.
While the exact cause of CRPS may be unknown, a leading risk factor is smoking. Tobacco use also significantly interferes with nerve regeneration.
2. Manage other health conditions
When you live with CRPS, it can be hard to focus on anything else. But it’s crucial to get any additional health conditions under control if you have them.
This is especially important if you have diseases that affect your circulation or nerves, like diabetes. Without proper management, conditions like these can make it more difficult for nerves in your body to heal.
3. Adopt an exercise program
If you live with pain, especially a debilitating condition like CRPS, the last thing you probably want to do is exercise. However, it’s one of the best things you can do to manage your symptoms.
When you move your body on a regular basis, it helps improve circulation to damaged nerves. It also strengthens joints and muscles and supports healthy function and mobility.
Dr. McAllister may suggest physical or occupational therapy to help get you started.
4. Learn relaxation techniques
People rarely think of relaxation techniques when managing health conditions. But they offer numerous benefits, especially with conditions that affect the nervous system, like CRPS.
Adding relaxation techniques to your daily life can help you:
- Decrease muscle tension
- Sleep better
- Ease anxiety
- Reduce stress
They can even make medication work better and — slow or completely stop — pain from worsening.
Several relaxation techniques can provide relief for CRPS symptoms, like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and biofeedback. If you have questions about where to get started, Dr. McAllister can make recommendations that might be a good fit for you.
5. Consider talk therapy
In addition to regular ketamine infusions and the lifestyle changes mentioned above, Dr. McAllister may suggest regular talk therapy.
Living with chronic pain conditions like CRPS can increase your chances of anxiety, depression, and stress — all of which can also increase your pain. Making talk therapy a part of your treatment strategy can help identify these emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and provide healthier coping strategies to avoid factors that contribute to your CRPS symptoms.
Do you have treatment-resistant CRPS? Dr. McAllister can outline a comprehensive treatment strategy to help manage your symptoms. Contact Ki_Ketamine by phone or online to schedule a consultation today.