CRPS
CHIROPRACTIC
SPORTS MEDICINE
neurologic therapy
DETOXIFICATION
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
ALLERGY CARE
DE-STRESS PROGRAM
COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME
WORLD-CLASS CARE
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
WHAT IS CRPS?
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is essentially excess and prolonged pain and inflammation that follows an injury to an arm or leg. CRPS can last in short-term and long-term lengths. Although it improves over time, eventually going away for most people, it is possible to have longer effects that are disabling, although rare.
Most CRPS illnesses are caused by improper function of the nerve fibers that carry pain messages to the brain. Excess firing also triggers inflammation designed to promote healing and rest after injury.
Many people labeled with CRPS-II (as opposed to CRPS-I) have more extensive injuries that also damage nerves going to muscles to cause weakness and muscle shrinkage in certain areas. This makes it easier to identify.
CRPS is less common in men and can occur at any age, with a peak around age 40. It is rare for elderly people and young children to get CRPS.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CRPS?
- Spontaneous pain, either constant or fluctuating. This may be a burning or “pins and needles” sensation.
- Prolonged pain after use or contact. Sometimes the affected area has increased sensitivity with light touch or normal physical contact. This may feel like a pin prick.
- Change to skin. This can be a change to skin temperature, skin color, or swelling of the affected area. It can be warmer or cooler than normal. The color may become blotchy, blue, pale, red, purple, or gray. The skin’s texture may change as well due to insufficient oxygen and nutrients.
- Sweating and nail and hair growth. Hair and nails may grow rapidly on the affected limb as well as profuse sweating or even no sweating.
- Joint stuffness. This is due to reduced movement in the affected limb. Ligaments and tendons become tight and maybe pinch nerves.
- Bone growth or waste. Bones may become rough or enlarged in areas where a poorly healed fracture or bone cyst may have existed.
- Reduced muscle strength or movement. Most people reported to have reduced ability to move the affected limb. This is caused by pain and abnormalities in the sensory input that coordinates movements. Inflammation and poor circulation attribute to this symptom.
WHAT CAUSES CRPS?
Most CRPS is caused by damage to injured peripheral sensory neurons, which then has secondary effects on the spinal cord and brain.
The most common activities that cause CRPS are:
- Fractures. Wrist fractures are the most common cause of CRPS.
- Surgery. A surgical incision, retractors, positioning, sutures, or post-operative scarring can cause nerve injury.
- Sprains/strains. Tissue ruptures can cause excess movement of a joint that stretches nearby nerves.
- Burns or cuts. These are the visible signs of injuries that may also have damaged underlying nerves.
- Very rare penetrations, such as from a cut or needle stick, can accidentally pierce a sensory nerve.
- Poor circulation can delay healing. This can deprive underlying muscles and deeper tissues of oxygen and nutrients, which can cause muscle weakness and joint pain.
- Poor nerve health. Conditions such as diabetes or neuropathy can lead to CRPS.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?
Primary therapies that are used are:
Physical therapy. This is the most important treatment for CRPS. Keeping the painful limb moving improves blood flow and lessens circulatory symptoms.
Psychotherapy. Those with CRPS may develop high levels of anxiety. Psychological treatment helps people with CRPS to feel better and better recover from CRPS.
Medications. Several classes of medication have been known to be effective towards CRPS. However, none are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for CRPS.
Alternative and holistic therapies. Based on studies from other painful conditions, we value a holistic approach, which can include chiropractic care and acupuncture.
CHIROPRACTIC
WORLD-CLASS CARE
FOR OPTIMAL, SUSTAINABLE, HEALTH
Many people think of chiropractors as back doctors because most treatment involves addressing the back or vertebra. In reality chiropractors are actually nervous system doctors. This is because the brain controls and coordinates the function of our cells, muscles, and organs. The brain does this by sending signals down the spinal cord and past the backbones to our cells and organs. When the back bones (or, vertebra) move out of alignment, they can irritate our nerves.
When a pain nerve gets irritated, the body will experience pain. When a nerve traveling to a muscle becomes irritated, the muscle will become weaker. And when a nerve traveling to an organ is irritated, actual organ disfunction can result.
Dr. Pascal’s chiropractic treatment involves finding the origin of the pain, removing the pressure off the nerve, and restoring normal, pain-free function to the body.
SPORTS MEDICINE
INJURY PREVENTION,
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT,
ACCELERATED REHABILITATION
BETTER. STRONGER. FASTER.
A former world-class athlete, Dr. Pascal has been the treating doctor at four Olympic Games and twelve World Championships. Whether you are a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, Dr. Pascal can decrease your risk of injury, help you perform better, and heal your injuries quicker.
Using his unique approach and state-of-the-art equipment (such as the Arp Wave and PiezoWave2), athletes make significantly better progress than they do with conventional sports rehabilitation techniques.
NEUROLOGIC THERAPY
TRANSFORMATIVE HEALING
FOR NEUROLOGIC ISSUES
For over 30 years Dr. Pascal has focused on helping patients with severe neurogenic issues such as fibromyalgia, RSD/CRPS, strokes, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, and paralysis.
Dr. Pascal uses his vast clinical experience and the most advanced neurologic techniques to help his patients become pain free, recover lost function and experience marked improvements in their health, vitality and quality of life.
DETOXIFICATION
IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
BY REMOVING TOXINS FROM THE BODY
Toxins can build up in our bodies from the air we breathe, the food and beverages we ingest, and the environment around us. Removing toxins from the body is key to improving our health and overall sense of well-being.
Dr. Pascal uses safe and effective methods
to help reduce toxins from the body.
FUNCTONAL MEDICINE
21ST-CENTURY HEALING
ASSESSMENT • TREATMENT • PREVENTION
A more personalized approach to healthcare.
Functional Medicine moves away from traditional disease-centered treatment to a prevention-oriented approach. After carefully listening to and examining the patient, Dr. Pascal is then able to target the exact factors that form the underlying cause, not just the symptoms.
Dr. Pascal then develops a treatment plan for each patient, to help heal the whole body and sustain optimal health and vitality.
ALLERGY CARE
ELIMINATE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS
WITHOUT SHOTS, DRUGS, OR AVOIDANCE
Dr. Pascal developed a revolutionary holistic allergy elimination technique that has helped thousands of patients overcome their symptoms to: food, environmental, and animal sensitivities including: dairy, shellfish, eggs, pollen, grass, perfume, and cats.
In office testing is done to determine which allergens are having the biggest effect on the person’s body. Most people need to be seen for 3 months of care. Our patients report a 90% improvement in their symptoms. (Medical allergy shot programs average 5 years with a 30% success rate.)
DE-STRESS PROGRAM
“DE-STRESS YOUR LIFE”
COACHING PROGRAM
Dr. Pascal believes addressing his patient’s mental and emotional stress is an important part of the healing process.
For this purpose he has invited Life Coach Lynleigh Rose into his practice, to provide Stress Assessments and take his patients through a 6-week “De-Stress Your Life” program.
This program includes weekly 1- hour video or phone sessions with Lynleigh. Through these sessions, emotional issues that may be contributing to a physical issue are uncovered, and the path to emotional healing becomes illuminated.
About Lynleigh Rose
Lynleigh has a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Springfield College, and Life Coaching experience all over the US, including Europe. She grew up in Southern California and made her way to North Carolina in 2015. Lynleigh has three children and has been passionate about health her whole life. She practices yoga, runs in nature, and eats a plant based diet to stay healthy.