If there were ever a condition that could be described as both invisible and relentless, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome would be it. Often called CRPS, it’s a nervous system disorder that can turn even the lightest touch or a gentle breeze into burning agony.
Understanding CRPS
As Dr. Katinka van der Merwe puts it, “CRPS is like an uninvited bully quietly taking possession of your body.” Her words come from experience; countless years spent working with patients who describe pain so severe it feels as though they’re being burned alive. Despite the darkness CRPS brings, Dr. Katinka’s message is clear: there’s always hope. “Knowledge,” she says, “leads to sympathy, better understanding, and the ability to support those you love.”
The CRPS Diagnosis
Getting a CRPS diagnosis isn’t a straight line; it’s more like a winding path. Many patients spend years bouncing between specialists, enduring painful tests, and being told their suffering is “in their head.” Dr. Katinka doesn’t sugarcoat this part of the experience. In her book, she writes, “Before patients are first diagnosed, they must navigate an endless maze of specialists, often painful tests, and misdiagnoses.”
And yet, she believes that understanding your own body is the first step towards empowerment. Her patients often become their own advocates and detectives, piecing together the clues that modern medicine may have missed.
Read the full article here.
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