Therapy dogs for CRPS and chronic pain

Some years ago, it occurred to me that many of my clients were dog owners, some longstanding, but others had acquired their canine companions since developing CRPS or other forms of chronic pain. It had taken time for the penny to drop, but when I began asking clients about their dogs, it was clear that most derived some form of therapeutic benefit from the relationship. These animals were not acquired expressly for therapeutic purposes, but the incidental benefits were clear. It begged the question, are therapy dogs for CRPS and chronic pain a thing?

Therapy dogs for CRPS

It’s long accepted that the presence of dogs and other animals helps relieve stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, boost endorphins, reduce heart and breathing rates and generally make us feel more positive. Dogs improve our social interaction. For example, the presence of a dog is far more likely to result in us striking up a conversation with a stranger. And we also tend to worry more about an animal’s wellbeing than our own – a great distraction.

When I began to explore therapy dogs for CRPS, the first website I encountered belonged to US-based CRPS sufferer Sally. The site and her Facebook page chart her journey with her assistance dog, Robbie.

In the UK, the charity Canine Partners trains assistance dogs “to meet the needs of individuals with even the most complex physical disabilities.” They are part of the coalition Assistance Dogs UK, providing the kite mark of excellence in assistance dog training. However, understandably, such is the demand for assistance dogs that the waiting list can prove prohibitive.

Monica

Most dogs acquired by those with chronic medical conditions are untrained in the sense that they have undergone no formal assistance dog training. But is that a problem? Here, one client, Monica, shares her experience.

In brief, following an accident three years ago, Monica developed CRPS in her right foot and ankle. Often confined to the house on her own for many hours whilst her partner was working, Monica had considered getting a companion dog for some time. However, temperament was a particular concern.

“A puppy was out of the question as it would be unfair to the dog,” she says. “In the end, we decided that I needed a slightly older dog. And not one that was too small as I’m very unsteady around the house, and I couldn’t risk it getting under my feet or jumping onto my leg.”

In the end, Monica approached a rescue home for some advice, and that’s when she met Max. He’s a medium-sized mongrel whom they thought was around four to five years of age. “We just clicked,” says Monica. “He’s a really happy dog. He loves people and attention but doesn’t charge at you or jump up. His idea of heaven is curling up next to me on the sofa. I’ve had him for nearly two years now and having him around has put me in a much better place mentally. I chat away to him all day long. It’s amazing the things I tell him. He’s a great therapist!”

Therapy dogs for CRPS: Research

I also encountered an interesting study published in 2012, “Impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy for Outpatients with Fibromyalgia”. Of 155 study participants, 106 could spend their waiting time at a pain clinic with a certified therapy dog. The remaining 49 were limited to the outpatient waiting area. The authors stated that “Significant improvements were reported for pain, mood, and other measures of distress among patients after the therapy dog visit but not the waiting room control,” concluding that “brief therapy dog visits may provide a valuable complementary therapy for fibromyalgia outpatients.”