What can a dog do for severe, erratic, chronic pain? Most people would say nothing. They’re just dogs. I strongly disagree. In this post, I’ll give an overview of the various tasks that could be beneficial to someone with CRPS, how a dog can prevent flares, and how my own service dog helps me specifically. They Manage the Little Things, So We Can Take on the Big ThingsService dogs assist their handlers by doing simple actions for them that may be difficult or impossible given their respective conditions. I label my service dog as a mobility dog, because that’s the existing category that he best fits in, but really he is in the business of pain management. CRPS is very complicated, erratic, unpredictable, and finicky. For many patients, an action as simple as turning a door knob can cause a sudden flare that feels as if lightning is coursing through their arm, zapping their body, and resulting in a total collapse on the floor. That flare could be prevented by a service dog opening & closing the door for their handler. This may be done by pushing a button, pulling a rope, or pushing down on a lever door knob. For every flare avoided, their handler can save an additional spoon for something else later on. The more energy we have, the better our chances of using our spoons for date night, watching a child’s sporting event, cooking dinner, and more. How can a dog manage pain? By helping us do the little things, they help us do the big things that make us feel alive and whole again. Tasks a Service Dog Could Perform for a Handler with CRPS
Robbie's Tasks
Closing NotesBefore we adopted Robbie, I wasn’t even sure if a dog could be used to manage CRPS. But I did know how beneficial they could be for other mobility disorders, so I thought, why not? Easily one of the best decisions I have ever made. It is not widely known, but yes service dogs can be extremely helpful to someone with CRPS. Programs may not recognize your need for a service dog over someone who is paralyzed or blind, but that doesn’t make your need for a service dog any less valid. Part of why we went with owner-training for myself. Anything is possible. Help is possible, no matter what the doctors tell you. There is something that can be done, and that’s accepting assistance from a dog. It will change your life. It will be hard, but worth it. Service dogs help their handlers manage their lives and live full lives despite their conditions. Even a beast like CRPS can be managed with the aid of a service dog.
3 Comments
David Overmyer
9/14/2017 03:00:34 am
Thank you for your thoughtful encouragement.
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Alexandria Suthard
11/29/2022 03:28:22 am
I have interviews with OT and PT at the Honolulu VA tomorrow in preparation for service dog. What breeds might work best for a person with CRPS lower extremity and ankylosing spondylitis and neck damage? Mostly we’re talking pain, flares, PTSD, need to calm the nervous system and help with balance and mobility. I swim for my health (ocean). What does a service dog handler do with their dog while swimming? Please advise.
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CRPS Service Dog
11/29/2022 10:18:28 am
Hi Alexandria! I hope you see this. It sounds like you need a mobility dog, which basically means a big dog. There isn't one specific breed that's best for CRPS. It depends more on what you need the dog to be able to do, what your lifestyle is like, and if you are up for training your own dog or need someone else to train it for you. I offer Free consults through my business, Disabled Advantage. Would you be interested in setting up a consult with me? I will be able to answer your question in depth and point you in the right direction with a few breed suggestions. If so, email me at [email protected]
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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