If you or a loved one is in chronic neurologic pain, call us for free at (479) 304-8202 or start your patient journey by filling out the form on the Get Started page to get more information about the Spero Clinic's neurologic rehabilitation program.
Dr. Katinka van der Merwe
Creator of the World’s Leading Neurologic Rehabilitation Program
Dr. Katinka practices in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She has gained a worldwide reputation as a CRPS doctor for her holistic and innovative approach to treating chronic pain by applying groundbreaking technology and techniques. Her program has generated an unprecedented success rate helping patients where all other crps therapy treatments have failed.
“I’ve created the clinic that I’ve always dreamt about and we have been changing lives, one at a time. To us, every patient counts, every person matters.”
Mothers of Children with CRPS
Juniper Rings The Bell In Full Remission After 3 Years of CRPS!
Symptoms Related to CRPS
CRPS Types and Phases
CRPS is associated with imbalance and malfunction of the autonomic nervous system resulting in disability, impairment, chronic pain, and functional loss. The International Association for the Study of Pain has proposed dividing CRPS into two types.
Type I
Formerly known as Sudeck’s atrophy or reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) does not exhibit demonstrable nerve lesions. The vast majority of people suffering from CRPS have this type.
Type II
Formerly known as causalgia, has obvious nerve damage present. As a rule, type II is considered the more painful of the two types with an unenviable 47/50 score on the McGill pain scale.
While CRPS was considered in the past to have three stages, it is now believed that patients with CRPS do not necessarily progress through these stages, or progress sequentially.
Stage 1
Characterized by intense, burning pain at the site of injury. Muscle spasms, joint stiffness, swelling, restricted mobility, vasospasms, rapid nail, and hair growth, decrease in temperature and decreased range of motion have all been reported. This has also been called “wet CRPS” as some patients may experience increased sweating. For a few lucky patients, this stage may last for a few weeks and then resolve on its own. For the unlucky majority, it progresses.
Stage 2
Characterized by even more intense pain, described by some as similar to the sensation of burning alive or being burned with a blowtorch. Hair growth is inhibited; swelling spreads; osteoporosis becomes severe; nails may crack, pit, grooved, or have spots on them; joints tend to thicken, and the muscles will atrophy or shrink, causing the affected limb to appear thinner than the other.
Stage 3
Characterized by permanent changes in the skin and bones, while the pain becomes even more intense and now may involve the entire limb. Flexor tendon contractions may be present causing the limb or appendage to contract (much like a claw). The symptoms may spread to any other body part, for example, the optic nerves or the digestive system.
The Vagus Nerve’s Relationship With CRPS
The Vagus Nerve works as a two-way highway, passing electrochemical signals between the organs and the brain. In chronic inflammatory disease, low Vagal tone (or function) causes inflammation in the body. And, high Vagal tone (or function) causes the reversal of inflammation.
Good communication between the immune system and the brain is therefore vital for controlling inflammation. Of course, the problem in the body of CRPS patients is that the Vagus Nerve is doing anything but communicating with the body. It has become more like a traffic-clogged freeway, where few signals are making it through in either direction.
More than 84% of our patients report major pain relief
At The Spero Clinic you will find a community of people going through the same pain. We’re here to support you and encourage healing.
Ringing the Bell
When a patient completes their treatment they ring the bell to let the world know they’ve met their goal.
Your life is still worth living.
If you look at The Spero Clinic’s gallery below, you will see many images of people “ringing the bell”. This is a tradition where my patients and staff gather when a patient graduates to their satisfaction. In most cases, that means that my patients are leaving my clinic pain-free.
Spero Clinic Patient Graduations Ring Bell CRPS Josilynn
Spero Clinic Patient Graduations Ring Bell CRPS FND Lauryn
Spero Clinic Patient Graduations Ring Bell CRPS EDS Fibromyalgia Gastroparesis Raynauds Veronica
Spero Clinic Patient Graduations Ring Bell CRPS Beatrice
Spero Clinic Patient Graduations Ring Bell CRPS Abdul
Spero Clinic Patient Graduations Ring Bell Bilateral Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia Stephanie
Pediatric CRPS Program
Our revolutionary treatment has Transformed Lives, allowing thousands of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome CRPS patients to become Pain-Free.
If interested, fill out the form on the page linked below to access details, book a consultation with our patient enrollment team who can answer your questions about the program and help you understand if it is the right fit for you.
Disclaimer: The information written on this website is designed to provide helpful information on various conditions and the subjects discussed. This website is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition or to replace the advice of your physician(s). The author of this website does not claim to treat, diagnose or cure Long COVID, CRPS, EDS/POTS, AMPS, or any other specific condition or infection. The Spero Clinic treats the central nervous system only, often resulting in the body being able to heal itself. You should regularly consult a physician in matters relating to your health, particularly with respect to any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem, consult your own physician(s).
The Spero Clinic’s success stories have been recognized worldwide