Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia & CRPS

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Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) often involve a nervous system that remains in fight-or-flight, even after the original injury or trigger has passed. This heightened state can amplify pain signals, disrupt sleep, increase fatigue, and affect how the body responds to stress

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In many cases, pain becomes widespread, persistent, or disproportionate to the original injury. These patterns are often connected to how the head, neck, and nervous system interact with tissue health, fluid pressure, and nerve signaling throughout the body.

 

Common Symptoms

 

• Widespread or regional pain

• Burning, stabbing, or hypersensitive pain (common in CRPS)

• Sensitivity to touch, temperature, or pressure

• Fatigue and low energy

• Sleep disruption

• Brain fog or difficulty concentrating

• Changes in circulation, swelling, or temperature in affected areas

 

How Chronic Pain & CRPS Develop

 

Chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and CRPS can develop when the nervous system becomes stuck in a heightened protective state. This may occur after injury, surgery, illness, emotional stress, or inflammation.

 

Over time, nerve signaling may become exaggerated, and tissues may lose their ability to calm inflammation and recover normally. Restrictions in fascia, joint mechanics, cranial structures, and the meninges can further reinforce this pattern, keeping pain signals active even when the original tissue injury has healed.

 

In CRPS specifically, changes in nervous system regulation can affect circulation, temperature, swelling, and pain sensitivity in a limb or region of the body.

 

Treatment Approach

 

At Art & Science Healing in Austin, TX, sessions are individualized to address both nervous system regulation and tissue-level dysfunction. Treatment may include:

• Craniosacral therapy to relieve tension or pressure on the meninges and cranial nerves

• Myofascial release to reduce fascial restrictions affecting nerves and circulation

• Chiropractic care, when appropriate, to improve joint mechanics and reduce nerve interference

• Frequency-specific microcurrent (FSM) to reduce inflammation, support tissue repair, calm nervous system activation, and restore more normalized nerve function

 

Appropriate therapies are blended into each session to reduce inflammation and support the nervous system while addressing mechanical, fascial, and tissue-level contributors to pain.

 

Conditions Often Connected to Chronic Pain

 

Chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and CRPS commonly overlap with other nervous system–related concerns, including:

• Headaches and migraines

• Jaw pain and facial pain

• Vertigo and balance disorders

• Digestive dysfunction

• Stress sensitivity

 

To learn more about how these conditions interrelate, visit our Head, Neck & Nervous System Conditions page.

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