Summary of Medical Operations and Treatments
Miscellaneous Treatments
Other Health Conditions & Treatments -as if CRPS wasn’t enough!
Cervical Dystonia – another neuropathic pain disease affecting the neck and shoulders and treated every 3 months with Botulinim toxin injections by a neurologist.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction –another painful condition treated every year by my pain management specialists with guided in theatre cortisone injections, also managed by regular clinical Pilates at home.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome- Managed by diet following consultations and investigations by a gastroenterologist and a dietitian who helped me identify my food intolerances.
Torn Shoulder Tendons & Bursitis –this was due to several years of using crutches and over use of my arms due to not being able to do things from a standing position. Rest and cortisone, a home visit from an occupational therapist helped and I now have to be very careful of how I use my arms and shoulders. It was at this point in 2014 that I bought a small electric wheelchair for around the house.
TMJ -Temporomandibular joint dysfunction - I had a perforated disc in 2008 on one side of my jaw and for 12 months could not open my mouth more than 13mm to eat, I can now manage 25mm but have to be careful.
- 3 surgeries
- 2 in theatre radio frequency treatments
- 2 in theatre sympathetic nerve blocks -2012 (helped for a short period)
- 2 surgeries 2013 –Spinal cord stimulator trial and then the permanent implant 2 months later (invaluable)
- Ketamine - 5 day in hospital subcutaneous infusions every 3 months since 2014 (invaluable)
Miscellaneous Treatments
- Acupuncture 2007 (made the pain worse)
- Hypnotherapy (no benefits)
- Psychotherapy (invaluable)
- Meditation (valuable & in practice every day)
- Diet - a healthy diet and a few sensible supplements (beneficial)
- Clinical Pilates (valuable & in practice most days)
- Graded Motor Imagery/mirror therapy (not helpful)
- Physiotherapy with a physiotherapist knowledgeable about CRPS (invaluable), Occupational therapy (invaluable).
Other Health Conditions & Treatments -as if CRPS wasn’t enough!
Cervical Dystonia – another neuropathic pain disease affecting the neck and shoulders and treated every 3 months with Botulinim toxin injections by a neurologist.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction –another painful condition treated every year by my pain management specialists with guided in theatre cortisone injections, also managed by regular clinical Pilates at home.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome- Managed by diet following consultations and investigations by a gastroenterologist and a dietitian who helped me identify my food intolerances.
Torn Shoulder Tendons & Bursitis –this was due to several years of using crutches and over use of my arms due to not being able to do things from a standing position. Rest and cortisone, a home visit from an occupational therapist helped and I now have to be very careful of how I use my arms and shoulders. It was at this point in 2014 that I bought a small electric wheelchair for around the house.
TMJ -Temporomandibular joint dysfunction - I had a perforated disc in 2008 on one side of my jaw and for 12 months could not open my mouth more than 13mm to eat, I can now manage 25mm but have to be careful.
