Pain relief done by mirrors
( but that's not all)

My story began with a triple compound colles right wrist fracture in 1998. I thought that I would just be in plaster a while, have physio and then life would go on as before. I was not prepared for the unrelenting pain that began then and continued for ten years.

I was told the pain was due to the severity of the break and I would be left with a stiff wrist and limited movement. It was two years after the accident that I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and by this time the pain and symptoms had spread. A year later I went through a treatment protocol, much the same as others. Unfortunately by this time my body was in such a state of alarm that I reacted badly to the medications and was informed nothing more could be done. I was devastated. On the one hand I was told I must get pain relief in order to do physical therapy and on the other that I was never to take even over the counter pain relief.

My wonderful pain psychiatrist threw me a lifeline. He told me about the latest research into things that can help eg Capsaicin cream made from chilis. He suggested I eat salmon to increase vitamin E to help with inflammation. He talked about the benefits of beetroot etc. Then he suggested I go home and look things up on the internet. He gave me some control.

Finally after much searching I found some things that helped me so in August 2006 I created a blog about what works for me. This was the way forward for me finally.

The most important discovery I made was mirror visual imagery, or mirror therapy. When I first read the research I was unsure how it could apply to me as I now had a whole body problem. I waited until I had a more severe one sided flare up and began from there. It was no miracle instant cure but the more I did the mirror work the better response I got. Finally after many weeks I was able to calm the flare up. This was a first as up till them I had no means of calming pain.

Over the past year I treated one flare up after another, each one following immediately on from the last. However last December, 2006, for the first time I had a break between flare ups. This was the first break from severe pain in many years. It lasted two days. I was over the moon. Throughout this year I’ve continued to treat flare ups and although sometimes I would still swing from one flare up to the next gradually the breaks became greater. Recently I had over three weeks break in a stretch. I slept like a baby for the first time in ten years. Right now I’m dealing with a lower right quadrant problem. This is coming from the lower back on the right side. Mirror therapy for backs isn’t easy but it is possible and it does work.

Now in November 2007 I’m feeling optimistic. I have a list of things to refer to when things get worse and I know that these do help. I don’t believe mirror therapy alone is the answer. Physical therapy is the most important thing. Each time you move you give your brain feedback and the message that you can do this. Mirror therapy reinforces the “it’s ok” message to the brain. Laser acupuncture relaxes muscle spasm and again gives a clam message. Eating smart by increasing foods high in antioxidants helps deal with free radical damage from the stress caused by pain etc. Capsaicin cream helps with burning pain. Controlled breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system again giving an “it’s ok” message. Pressure of water does the same so a bath or water therapy is great. There are many more things on my list. If you google “crps/rsd a better life” you can find out more.

I can’t believe that just over twelve months ago I was such a mess and now I can walk to the beach. The new understanding of the part the brain plays in pain is changing the way we are able to manage pain. For this I am very grateful.

© Jeisea 2007

http://www.crps-rsd-a-better-life.blogspot.com