What Aggravates CRPS?

Common Factors That Aggravate CRPS

• Inflammatory Diet: Inflammatory foods like sugar, seed oils, and processed ingredients worsen systemic inflammation.
• Caffeine Intake: The short bump in energy from coffee has disastrous after-effects as caffeine is a diuretic and fatigues the adrenal system further in the long run.
• Sleep Deprivation: Poor sleep prevents the nervous system from resetting and healing, worsening symptoms.
• Weather Changes: Cold weather, humidity, and barometric pressure fluctuations can exacerbate pain and swelling.
• Nicotine Use: Smoking is especially detrimental to those who suffer from CRPS because it decreases oxygen to the brain and increases neurological injury.
• Alcohol consumption: Alcohol and nicotine add to your toxic chemical load, as well as impair circulation and worsen inflammation, which in turn increase pain and slow the healing process.
• Chronic Inflammation: Persistent inflammation drives pain and amplifies symptoms through pro-inflammatory cytokines and nerve sensitivity.
• Medications and Toxins: Certain medications, smoking, and alcohol can burden the body, reducing its ability to manage pain.
• Stress: Stress hormones like cortisol increase inflammation and impede the body’s ability to heal.
• Painful triggers: Pain anywhere in the body, not directly related to the pain of CRPS, will usually amplify the pain caused by CRPS.
• Co-Existing Conditions: Issues like fibromyalgia, IBS, or PTSD can compound CRPS symptoms and complicate treatment.

Understanding these triggers is a crucial step in managing CRPS. However, it’s essential to note that while avoiding aggravating factors can reduce symptoms, long-term relief lies in addressing the root cause of CRPS: nervous system dysregulation. The condition often develops because the autonomic nervous system—the body’s master control system—has lost its balance. Healing requires more than symptom management; it requires rehabilitating the system that governs the body’s responses to pain, inflammation, and stress.