Complementary Techniques

Complementary medicine refers to medical care that may be used in addition to the more traditional forms of treatment. Complementary approaches include, but are not limited to:

Acupuncture – Originating in China thousands of years ago, this practice involves putting long, thin needles into specific points along the body to relieve pain and discomfort. Acupuncturists believe that a healthy body contains channels through which energy flows. When these channels are blocked, energy cannot flow and bad health can occur. Needles are inserted into the blocked areas to correct imbalances and open up the energy channels again. Little quality research has been done to accurately reflect the benefit of acupuncture for treating CRPS.

Biofeedback – This involves a learning process using visual or auditory (sound-based) feedback. Biofeedback allows you to train your mind and body to control or normalize the way you respond to pain. It makes you more aware of your body and helps you learn how to relax and relieve pain.

Homeopathic medicine – Homeopathy is an alternative, non-toxic approach used to treat illness and relieve discomfort in a wide range of health conditions. This practice is based on using the “law of similars” to cause a healing response. The law of similars states that a substance that will cause disease symptoms in a healthy person can, when given in homeopathic dilutions to an ill individual, prompt the same set of symptoms to begin a healing response. Homeopathic “remedies” must be prepared in a certain way. The dilution used will depend on the symptoms being treated.

Always ask your health care provider before taking traditional and homeopathic remedies at the same time. Mixing medicines may result in harmful effects to your body.

Hypnosis – This involves entering an altered state of consciousness whereby suggestions inserted while in that state can lead to changes in behavior. For example, using hypnosis to treat pain may help to alter your physical sensations. Self-hypnosis involves inducing an altered state of consciousness – and thus controlling pain sensation – by yourself.

Manipulation – Chiropractors, osteopathic physicians and manual therapists most commonly do manipulations. Manipulation involves the movement of tissue by the laying on of hands. When done gently, it may be referred to as "mobilization." Doctors of Chiropractic and Osteopathy often do manipulations that are called "adjustments." People may feel short-term pain relief from this therapy. Many prefer these interventions because they avoid the possible side effects of medicines or problems related to surgery. Long-term and on-going dependence on these therapies for pain relief is discouraged.

Therapeutic massage – This is a form of massage that can help relieve muscle spasm and pain. Its use in treating CRPS is limited by the presence of allodynia – or pain caused by something that normally would not hurt, such as touch, gentle pressure or cold. As a result, many People with CRPS cannot tolerate the squeezing of muscles in their CRPS-involved limb.

Visual imagery – This technique is the practice of using your imagination to create mental pictures that may help reduce stress and relieve your pain. Typically, this involves closing your eyes and picturing something in your mind. For example, you may picture a healing energy washing over your body, or the “wires” to the pain being cut.

The quality of research supporting these approaches varies from therapy to therapy. In some cases, the research is of better quality than that supporting the use of some medicines and many surgical procedures. In other cases, the research is not as strong. As with any treatment approach, always talk to your health care provider first before using a complementary therapy.

Many other techniques and over-the-counter alternative medicines, such as Chinese herbs, are on the market. However, use caution when going to alternative practitioners who use these techniques. There is no firm scientific evidence of their usefulness in treating CRPS. It is easy to fall victim to unscrupulous or uneducated practitioners when you are desperate to find pain relief. Unfortunately, unregulated delivery of health care increases the risks of a bad treatment outcome. The “cure” can sometimes be worse than the illness.