EASTON — Keeping good grades — much less straight As — your freshman year of high school is an accomplishment for anyone.
But when it comes to 15-year-old Dylan Smith, those good grades are a testament to Smith’s perseverance.
For about three years, Dylan was too sick to attend school. After getting COVID-19 in January 2022, Smith developed long COVID.
At 12 years old, Dylan lost the ability to do anything for himself. Over time, he could no longer eat without a feeding tube or walk. He developed non-epileptic seizures, caused by trauma and pain.
“My pain got worse every day,” he said. “It kind of felt like my bones were breaking every second.”
There were two months where he stopped talking.
“And it’s not that he didn’t want to talk,” said his mom, Stacey Smith. “He physically couldn’t.”
Read the full article here.
Redefining Recovery: Real Patient Perspectives on Holistic Healing at the Spero Clinic With Tara Rae Moss
Imagine being a bestselling author, speaker and advocate, living life 1000 miles per hour and then, suddenly and seemingly without a cause, life puts the brakes on – hard. This happened to Tara Rae Moss, renowned author of 13 books in 18 countries and 13 languages around the world and considered one of Australia’s best crime novelists.
Eight years ago, following a hip injury, Moss was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or CRPS, a rare condition that on the McGill pain scale is thought to rival childbirth or amputation of a finger or toe. Experiencing full-blown symptoms in 2021, the condition spread, she says, after a ketamine infusion in 2021.
Read the full article here.
After suffering with CRPS, Emily McDonald, stepped into healing after receiving treatment from The Spero Clinic in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
“Ever since I treated my very first patient suffering from CRPS,” says Spero Founder and CEO Dr. Katrinka van der Merwe. “I became obsessed with helping people who suffer from this horrible, life-robbing condition.”
Often dubbed the “suicide disease,” Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of intense, chronic pain that typically develops after an injury, surgery, a stroke or heart attack. The pain is off the charts, compared to the severity of the initial injury. Considered incurable by the medical community, the only traditional remedy is pain medication which only brings temporary relief.
That was the case with Emily McDonald, a lively, happy teen who, after a routine appendix operation in March 2021, developed CRPS symptoms so severe, she was unable to walk.
Wheelchair-bound and in constant pain, Emily and her parents had given up all hope of recovery, until she entered the doors of The Spero Clinic, renowned for its groundbreaking therapies for neurologic dysfunction disorders, such as CRPS, Fibromyalgia, Long COVID and others.
Read the full article here.
Emily McDonald’s Story
Ten years ago, Founder and CEO of The Spero Clinic, Dr. Katinka van der Merwe, treated her first patient suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Since then, she has created a world-renowned treatment protocol, capturing the attention of the media and doctors from across the globe.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of chronic pain that usually affects the limbs. CRPS typically develops after an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack. The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury. The main symptoms, apart from severe pain, are swelling, loss of range of motion, temperature changes, and changes in the skin.
That was the case with Emily McDonald, a lively, happy teen who, after a routine appendix operation in March 2021, got trapped with CRPS symptoms so severe, her life seemed to have ended. Unable to walk, wheelchair-bound and in constant pain, Emily and her parents had given up all hope of recovery.
That is, until she entered the doors of The Spero Clinic, renowned for its groundbreaking therapies for neurologic dysfunction disorders, such as CRPS, Fibromyalgia, Long COVID and others.
Read the full article here.
“What I’ve already experienced has surpassed what I ever expected. I am deeply appreciative for this moment after nearly eight years of profound dizziness, brain fog, fatigue, mobility challenges, and persistent pain that I was once told might never end.”
Imagine being a renowned author, speaker, and advocate, living life at full speed, and then, suddenly and seemingly without a cause, everything changes. This shift is the experience of many who face sudden, unexpected health challenges, including those diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
Eight years ago, after a hip injury, one individual was diagnosed with CRPS, a rare condition that, on the McGill pain scale, is believed to cause pain comparable to childbirth or the amputation of a finger or toe.
As the symptoms of CRPS intensified in 2021, this individual was forced to relocate with their family from a home that was no longer accessible, to a more accommodating living space by the water in Victoria, Canada. The worsening of their condition is attributed to a specific medical procedure in 2021.
Read the full article here.
Chronic pain is a hidden struggle that can diminish the joy in even the most mundane activities. For Ted, living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) meant enduring a relentless state of discomfort, often feeling hopeless about finding relief.
However, his journey took a significant turn when he found a holistic approach to pain management at The Spero Clinic. There, the focus is not just on alleviating physical symptoms but on empowering the body to heal itself.
Ted’s Journey with Chronic Pain
Ted’s challenges with CRPS began after what seemed like a minor injury, which quickly escalated into a life-changing condition. CRPS is a complex neurological disorder characterized by severe, burning pain, swelling, and heightened sensitivity in the affected area, profoundly affecting a person’s life.
Read the full article here.
BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS, February 26, 2025 — Chronic pain is more than only a bodily situation—it impacts every aspect of existence. For Lou, the conflict with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) became an awesome mission, one which many scientific experts deemed incurable. However, Lou’s story is a testament to the transformative energy of innovative treatment and the notion that restoration is feasible. At the Spero Clinic, where groundbreaking holistic therapies offer new hope, Lou found relief after years of struggling.
CRPS: A Life-Altering Condition
CRPS is an unprecedented but debilitating neurological disease that frequently develops after damage, mainly due to extreme, burning pain, swelling, and heightened sensitivity. The situation not simplest impacts the frame but also takes a full-size toll on mental and emotional well-being. Like many CRPS patients, Lou spent years looking for effective treatment, dealing with frustration as traditional approaches didn’t provide alleviation.
“Lou’s journey , I persevered ache that felt insurmountable,” Lou remembers.
“Doctors told me it turned into something I would ought to be given. I felt fully hopeless.”
Read the full article here.
Join Dr. Jay and Brad as they interview Dr. Katinka van der Merwe in their latest episode, “The Possibility of Hope”. LIVE now!
Click here to watch the entire interview with Dr. Katinka on Podbean or listen to it on Spotify today!
To learn more about Dr. Katinka van der Merwe and The Spero Clinic, check out their website and follow on them on social media today!
To learn more about Tech Talk Healthcare, check out: www.TechTalkhealthcare.online
“CRPS completely turned my life upside down. I was in debilitating pain,” said Paula. “I had no quality of life. I felt like I was surviving; I was not living. I did not know if I could continue to live like that.”
Upon arriving at The Spero Clinic, Paula underwent daily treatment modalities unlike anything she’d experienced before. These include twice-daily Vagus Nerve stimulation sessions, Magnetic Resonance therapy, and many other modalities designed to balance the central nervous system, restore order to the body’s communication channels to the brain, and promote healing from the inside out.
Read the full article here.
Paula, a survivor of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), shares her transformative journey toward healing at The Spero Clinic. CRPS is a chronic pain condition affecting millions, often triggered by an injury or medical event, causing severe pain, muscle spasms, and mobility issues.
CRPS, or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, is a chronic pain condition that affects between 5 and 8 million people around the world. CRPS is often triggered by an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack, and typically appears in the arm or leg on one side of the body.
Read the full article here.
Start your patient journey with the Spero Clinic's neurologic rehabilitation program.
