The Kick that Altered Everything:

In the heat of a competitive match, an accidental collision left a little girl on the ground clutching their leg crying in pain. Little did she know that playing soccer on this day would turn an ordinary injured leg into an agonizing ordeal. Her injured leg continued to hurt long after the pain should have gone away. The pain was out of proportion to the initial injury, along with swelling in the leg and these unusual color changes that appeared blotchy red and even white or blue at times, and while lying in bed the sheets simply touching her leg, cause so much pain and becoming unbearable. The increase in burning sensation coursed through the limb, accompanied by sharp, shooting pains that radiated across her body. Her mom and dad didn’t know what was wrong with her.

Imagine seeing your child in pain, day after day, with no clear answers as to why. Your child has been seen by doctors, specialist and other health care providers and nobody knows what is causing the pain.

There has been discussion on what could be causing her pain. From many common sports injuries such as muscle soreness, sprain, strains, tendonitis, fracture to overuse injury. Countless doctors’ appointments at pain care centers, testing and ineffective treatments has not helped. Nothing seems to match with what your child is complaining about. One doctor even tells you that your child is seeking attention and needs to see a psychiatrist.

A Glimmer of Hope

In the pursuit of a solution, the family finds a glimmer of hope, while doing research on the internet, finding a website that describes what her child has been suffering from. As we say in medicine this little girl is suffering from the “Zebra”, A rare disease often overlooked or unknown to doctors or other health care providers. Her symptoms matched CRPS.

What is CRPS?

CRPS, short for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is a complex and often misunderstood condition that manifest as intense and relentless pain. The exact cause is not fully understood, but it often develops after an injury or trauma to the affected limb. It is thought that may involve an abnormal response by the immunes system or a change in the blood flow and nerve sensitivity.

There is no specific test for CRPS, so healthcare professionals rely on the combination of medical history, physical examination, and sometimes imaging or nerve studies.

What are the Symptoms of CRPS?

• Pain with the sheet touching your foot, to where you cannot stand it to be touched.

• Continuous burning or throbbing pain

• Pain that is out of proportion to initial injury

• Pain that continues after healing has occurred.

• Swelling of the area

• Changes in skin color, Appear blotchy red or blue or even white.

• Change in temperature to being very hot or cold, sweating.

• Change in hair or nail growth.

• Joint swelling and stiff

• Muscle spasms, tremors, loss of muscle

• Skin can look shiny or thin.

• Excessive sweating

• A feeling of tightness around the area

• Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

• Psychological: stress, depression Anxiety

• Face: Headaches, Migraines, TMJ, change in vision

• Stomach issues: IBS, Gastroparesis, nausea, bloating, constipation

• Skin: Allodynia (painful to wash hair or brush hair), thinning, cracked, oozing

• Insomnia

• Brain fog

• Memory loss

• Chest pain

• Dizziness

• Rash

• Water causing pain and skin changes.

• Difficulty in sleeping

• Fatigue and weakness

• Sensation of Pins and needles

A Ray of Understanding

Early diagnosis and treatment tend to yield a better outcome for CRPS. One of the most successful and non-invasive options is Calmare Scrambler Therapy. Calmare Scrambler Therapy is a non-invasive treatment designed to modulate nerve pain signals by delivering non-painful electrical impulses through surface electrodes placed on the skin. The aim is to “retrain” the nervous system to reinterpret pain signals as non-threatening.

In the context of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Calmare Scrambler Therapy is proposed to override the abnormal pain signaling pathways that contribute to persistent pain, allodynia, and hyperalgesia characteristic of CRPS. By selectively shaping stimulus patterns to resemble normal touch rather than pain, the therapy seeks to reduce both pain intensity and disability, potentially improving function and quality of life.

Don’t let CRPS control your child’s life. Experience the transformative power of Calmare Scrambler Therapy and bring back the joy that should be a part of every youth athlete’s journey. To schedule a consultation with Dovie McVean, click here.