Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is often described as one of the most painful and life-altering conditions a person can experience. Its impact on mobility, nervous system stability, and emotional well-being can reshape every part of a person’s life. For many patients, the journey is a long and unpredictable one. But for Cole Kirkpatrick, a young man whose CRPS symptoms once consumed his daily life, perseverance and an unwavering belief in the possibility of healing became his turning point.
Cole’s story is more than a narrative about CRPS. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the importance of holistic care, and the incredible impact a compassionate medical team can have when they commit to treating the nervous system as a whole.
Understanding CRPS and Its Daily Challenges
CRPS is a complex neurological condition that affects how the central nervous system communicates with the body. It often begins after an injury and can escalate into severe, life-altering pain. Symptoms may include burning sensations, sensitivity to touch, swelling, changes in skin temperature, and decreased mobility. These CRPS symptoms can vary from person to person, making the condition unpredictable and emotionally exhausting.
For patients like Cole, the effects can spread far beyond the site of the original injury. Even the simplest and most mundane daily tasks can become increasingly difficult. And, the physical discomfort often leads to emotional stress, sleep disruption, and isolation.
Cole’s Turning Point
Cole’s family shared his story with the world, documenting both his battle and his determination to reclaim his life. Their mission led to a fundraiser dedicated to helping Cole access the holistic neurological rehabilitation he needed. His family’s GoFundMe page provides a glimpse into the early stages of his journey and the support system that rallied behind him.
His family’s belief in his recovery, as well as Cole’s persistence through hardship, brought him to The Spero Clinic. The day Cole walked through our doors was the day he began a life-changing CRPS therapy treatment plan focused on correcting nervous system dysfunction with a holistic approach. Read the full article here.
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.
Author and health advocate Tara Rae Moss has achieved remission of her CRPS, thanks to a treatment journey rooted in spiritual healing at The Spero Clinic.
After years of relentless agony and doctors telling her she would “never recover,” renowned author and health advocate Tara Rae Moss has achieved remission of her Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), thanks to a groundbreaking treatment journey rooted in spiritual healing at The Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
CRPS Revisited
CRPS is widely recognized as one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, described in medical literature as rivaling childbirth or even amputation for intensity. Moss, who was diagnosed after a hip injury and years of misdiagnosis, recounts how her body “was split down the middle like a ruler and half of my body was on fire, cold fire.” The disease often brings burning, hyper-sensitive limbs, autonomic dysfunction, and a cascade of symptoms so complex they defy conventional treatment.
CRPS Symptoms and the Unseen Battle
For Moss, the symptoms went far beyond pain. She experienced mobility loss, brain fog, fatigue, and sweeping systemic dysfunction. As she puts it, “Everything was disconnected in a geographical way.”
At the Spero Clinic, the team utilized a holistic, multimodal protocol designed to detect and reverse the root neurologic and autonomic imbalances underlying CRPS rather than simply masking symptoms. The clinic’s public patient stories catalog dozens of cases of CRPS patients who previously endured years of fruitless treatments and who finally found meaningful relief.
New Treatments for CRPS: The Turning Point
The innovation that made Moss’s breakthrough possible lies in the clinic’s integrative model. By combining advanced neurologic rehabilitation, evidence-based therapies, and spiritual coaching, the clinic offered Moss “a big part of that [recovery] is the spiritual work that I’ve now trained in.”
This shift away from purely biomedical treatment toward a bio-psycho-spiritual model represents a new treatment paradigm for CRPS. With specialists coordinating nervous-system modulation, functional restoration, and mindset work, the Spero Clinic is advancing outcomes even for patients long labeled “incurable.”
Read the full article here.
The Spero Clinic is proud to officially join the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Family! This milestone marks an exciting step forward in our ongoing mission to bring hope and healing to patients from around the world who are living with complex neurological conditions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Long COVID, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and more.
On Monday, November 10th, we celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at our Fayetteville clinic, surrounded by staff, patients, and community members. This event symbolizes not only growth, but also our commitment to strengthening local connections and expanding awareness about neurologic rehabilitation and chronic pain recovery.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce for welcoming us so warmly and for supporting businesses that make a difference in our community. The Chamber’s partnership allows us to continue sharing our message: that healing is possible and hope is real.
Whether you joined us in person or tuned in to our Facebook Live stream, thank you for being part of this special moment in Spero’s story. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier future for those seeking relief and restoration. 🧡
For many years, Christina endured a body that felt as if it were ablaze. Each movement was a risk, and every day was a challenge of resilience. Physicians provided her with diagnoses, medications, and compassionate glances, but no solutions. Loved ones observed in despair as she was overtaken by continuous, unyielding pain. Then, against all expectations, Christina discovered The Spero Clinic. What transpired next is truly remarkable: a tale of determination, research, and an unwavering commitment to not allow her condition to dictate her life.
Living With CRPS: When Pain Becomes a Prison
If you’re reading this, you or someone dear to you is likely familiar with the beast known as CRPS — Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It’s referred to as the “suicide disease,” a medical condition so intense that it feels like living in a fire that never extinguishes.
Most individuals cannot truly grasp the daily suffering caused by CRPS symptoms: a burning pain that ignites with the slightest touch, limbs that betray you with stiffness or swelling, skin that unexpectedly changes color, temperature, or texture. Doctors frequently misdiagnose it. Friends and family become exhausted from asking, “How are you feeling?” when the response is invariably, “Still in pain.”
CRPS creates isolation while bringing shame and taking the power to experience life away. And for Christina, it nearly triumphed. Read the full article here.
Upon meeting Kyle Maness, the first aspect that captures your attention is his quiet strength. Beneath his calm demeanor lies a narrative filled with fire, suffering, and a struggle that most of us can scarcely comprehend. A native of Huntsville, Kyle endured years grappling with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) following a devastating workplace incident that left him confronting pain so severe it has been likened to that of childbirth or amputation. Today, through innovative treatment, Kyle is transforming his tale of survival into one of recovery and optimism.
CRPS: The “Suicide Disease” with the Highest Pain Ranking
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, abbreviated as CRPS, is a rare neurological disorder that can set in after an injury or trauma. Rather than healing, the nervous system malfunctions, ensnaring patients in relentless cycles of agony. On the McGill Pain Index, CRPS ranks higher than any other condition, which is why it is grimly referred to as “the suicide disease.”
Dr. Katinka van der Merwe, the founder of Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas, articulates it succinctly: “CRPS commandeers the autonomic nervous system. Many patients are led to believe there is no hope, but the reality is that the nervous system can be rehabilitated. It is capable of change. And when it changes, so too can their pain.” Read the full article here.
Following years of excruciating CRPS pain and failed treatment attempts, Kyle found hope through a revolutionary treatment program at The Spero Clinic.
What occurs when the pain from an accident persists indefinitely? For Kyle Maness, a native of Huntsville, a workplace catastrophe left him grappling with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), one of the most severe chronic pain conditions recognized in medicine. After enduring years of unyielding suffering and unsuccessful treatments, Kyle discovered renewed hope through an innovative program at The Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
CRPS: A Rare and Devastating Diagnosis
In 2015, after Kyle Maness experienced a catastrophic workplace accident, his life was irrevocably altered. A malfunctioning machine released 300-degree liquid onto his body, resulting in burns covering 40 percent of his skin. Although his wounds eventually healed, the pain persisted and soon escalated into a condition that is often still misunderstood in the medical community: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
CRPS is a rare and progressive neurological disorder, frequently characterized as the most painful condition known to medicine. According to the McGill Pain Index, it ranks higher than amputation and childbirth. For Kyle, CRPS manifested as an unrelenting fire in his legs, feet, and arm, all a daily torment that conventional medicine could not alleviate. Read the full article here.
Christina Kermezian went from being confined to a wheelchair by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) to living a life free from pain.
Chronic pain can be a debilitating condition that severely impacts a person’s quality of life. For Christina Kermezian, this was the reality of living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS. Once reliant on a wheelchair, she has now regained her mobility and is thriving following treatment at The Spero Clinic.
Understanding the Challenge of CRPS
CRPS is a chronic pain condition that can leave patients with a range of symptoms, including severe pain, changes in skin temperature and color, and motor dysfunction. The condition is often misunderstood, and many people struggle to find effective, long-term relief. Traditional medical approaches often focus on medication to manage symptoms, which can sometimes fail to address the underlying issues.
This was the experience for Christina until she began a treatment program at The Spero Clinic. The clinic’s approach, led by Dr. Katinka van der Merwe, emphasizes neurological rehabilitation and aims to correct the root dysfunction of the nervous system, rather than just managing the symptoms… Read the full article here.
Visit Spero Clinic’s Patient Stories page to learn more about Christina’s patient journey.
From a Mild Ankle Sprain to Unbearable Long-Term Chronic Pain
A sprained ankle or a twisted wrist – for most people, these may be uncomfortable, but recovery is usually quick and without complications. But in some cases, minor injuries such as these can be the onset of a grueling and unbearable future, filled with pain.
Take Ceciley Maxa, a bright and lively 25-year-old from River Falls, Wisconsin, who sprained her ankle, which set off a chain reaction no one could have ever imagined. As the days went by, hoping for improvement and after numerous medical tests, the pain only worsened until she couldn’t take it any longer. “The sensation can be described as being burned with a blowtorch on the skin,” she said.
After navigating hospitals, clinics, and doctors without remission, Ceciley eventually found The Spero Clinic in Arkansas, which specializes in holistic treatments for neurologic disorders. She learned that she had contracted Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare disorder causing symptoms that make the body seem to be on fire… Read the full article here.
Following Years of Anguish, Ceciley Maxa is Now Living Pain-Free After Groundbreaking CRPS Treatment from the Spero Clinic in Arkansas
For years, chronic condition CRPS caused Ceciley Maxa extreme pain, also leaving her disabled. After receiving innovative CRPS treatment from the Spero Clinic, Ceciley achieved long-awaited healing and relief.
Spraining your ankle may not sound like a big deal – it’s uncomfortable and painful, but recovery is usually quick and without complications. Yet, in some cases, a minor injury can spark off a condition that results in excruciating chronic pain and loss of mobility. This condition is called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS.
For Ceciley Maxa, a lively 25-year-old from River Falls, Wisconsin, her sprained ankle developed into years of living a nightmare, until she couldn’t take it any longer. “The sensation can be described as being burned with a blowtorch on the skin,” she said.
After navigating hospitals, clinics, and doctors without remission, Ceciley eventually found The Spero Clinic in Arkansas, which specializes in holistic treatments for neurologic disorders, including CRPS… Read the full article here.
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