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CRPS Therapy Continued at home

The weeks just kind of flew by at the end and I didn't even stay caught up.  After week 8, Abree kept making great improvements.  We were able to fly home a few times to see the family and it didn't seem to affect her healing at all.  By 13 weeks she was able to graduate and come home!!  We got home just in time for Hunter's graduation from high school.  

The day we found out she could go home she had a spike of pain.  I immediately was worried and started stressing that going home wasn't the right thing.  But as Abree and I talked about the pain, she was able to realize it was more pain from fear of going home.  It's completely understandable.  For weeks her only focus was learning how to get her pain down and rest.  Coming home meant she had to go back to normal life and actually have responsibilities again.  As she recognized the pain for what it was, fear, she was able to feel a decrease in the pain and move forward.

Fear is such a funny and frustrating part of life!  It was given to us to protect and help keep us safe, and yet it can paralyze us if we are letting fear control.  Learning to find a balance with fear is such a fine line.  

"The fears we don't face becomes our limits." (Robin Sharma)

During those last few days at the clinic, Abree realized that she wanted to go back and face gymnastics again.  She wasn't sure what would come of it, but she knew she needed to face it!  The last few years of gymnastics for her was pain and frustration.  She loves the sport and she wants to end with it continuing to be a positive sport for her.  So no matter what happens (we have no clue if she'll be able to compete again or not) she wants to face an obstacle in her life.

We have now been home for a few weeks.  Abree's pain went up a little bit the first week of being home.  They said that is pretty normal.  The stress of coming back to home life can cause extra inflammation in the body and inflammation can cause pain.  But she handled it well.

We bought the arp machine so she can continue to do treatments each day.  She is also working with one of the online therapist and loving the continued progress she is finding there.

Since being home she has hiked, started doing basic gymnastics again, coached, cooked, and actually hung out with friends any time she gets a chance.  It's been over a year since she had the desire to hang out with friends.  She normally hurt too much to go out.  Most importantly, she is truly smiling again!

One of the biggest questions I get asked since being home is - "Is Abree healed?"  The answer is no, but she is in remission.  She will never be healed from this disease.  It will always be there.  I compared it to diabetes the last time someone asked me.  It's a disease that can flare at any time.  It's also an important disease to learn about and educate yourself about.  If you have the right tools, you should be able to keep it in remission.  And luckily, we found the right tools.  The Spero Clinic taught her how to live a normal life and keep the disease in remission.  

We will always be eternally grateful for the experience of the Spero Clinic!  It is blessing so many people's lives and is a miracle for those patients who deal with CRPS.

Here are a few pictures from her last weeks at the clinic and now back at home.

One of the chiropractors at the clinic - Dr T

A handful of the patients who were at the clinic during Abree's time.  AKA - Now our friends for life :)

Abree and Tamie - Tamie was Abree's therapist who knew just how to push her each and everyday to make it a positive healing experience.


Hiking a few days after getting home.


Ringing the bell at her graduation from the Spero Clinic

Relearning the basics at gym again.






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