Burning pain doesn't have to define your life.
If you live with burning feet, hands, ears, or face, you know how isolating Erythromelalgia (EM) can be. Many people spend years searching for answers before finally receiving a diagnosis—and even then, they are often left wondering what to do next. As both a nurse practitioner and someone who has personally lived with Erythromelalgia, I understand how overwhelming this journey can feel. My goal is to help you better understand this complex condition, explore potential contributing factors, and navigate your next steps with clarity and hope.
You are not alone.
For many people, receiving an Erythromelalgia diagnosis is only the beginning.
Questions quickly follow.
Why did this happen to me?
Why aren't treatments working?
Will I ever get better?
Many people spend years searching for answers while trying medication after medication, seeing multiple specialists, and feeling increasingly discouraged.
While every person's story is different, improvement is possible—and understanding the condition is often the first step.
Some lessons can only be learned by living them.
I first learned about Erythromelalgia not from a textbook, but by living through it myself. Those were five intensely painful years.
My journey eventually led me to additional diagnoses, including Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). This experience shaped both my personal recovery and my clinical curiosity.
Today, I combine lived experience, evidence-informed medicine, and years of clinical practice to help others navigate the same road with greater confidence and less confusion.
Erythromelalgia is complex.
Erythromelalgia is not a single disease with a single cause.
Depending on the individual, contributing factors may include inherited sodium channel disorders, myeloproliferative disorders, autoimmune disease, neuropathy, medication effects, environmental illness, or other medical conditions.
Because every case is unique, my goal is never to replace your treating physician. Instead, I work alongside your healthcare team by helping you better understand your condition, organize next steps, and apply practical lessons learned through both personal experience and clinical practice.
What do we offer?
Depending on your needs, there are several ways we can work together.
Our Services
Our quarterly signature EM educational program
A live small-group experience designed for people living with erythromelalgia.
Includes:
• Two-hour live educational workshop
• Comprehensive 20+ page written protocol
• Six weeks to begin implementation
• One-hour live follow-up session
• Co-led by Candace Day, Shoemaker Certified Proficiency Partner and chronic illness coach
We'll discuss:
• Understanding erythromelalgia
• Common treatment approaches
• Potential underlying contributors
• Lifestyle strategies
• Practical lessons from lived experience
• Navigating your healthcare journey
We believe finances should not be the sole barrier to education. Limited reduced-cost registrations are available for individuals experiencing financial hardship. Documentation of financial need is required.
This program is educational in nature and is designed to complement—not replace—medical care from your healthcare providers.
Sometimes you simply need someone who understands.
Candace Day provides one-on-one EM coaching.
With lived experience of erythromelalgia herself, Candace understands the realities of managing a complex and often misunderstood condition.
Coaching can help you:
• Stay organized and consistent with your plan after the EM Intensive
• Troubleshoot day-to-day challenges
• Explore root challenges discussed in the EM Intensive
• Maintain momentum as you navigate life with EM
Full Coaching Session | 60 minutes of care | $180
Appointment includes 5 minutes of call prep prior to visit, a 40-minute telehealth coaching call, and 15 minutes in post-visit personalized follow-up*
Focus Coaching Session | 30 minutes of care | $90
Appointment includes 5 minutes of call prep prior to visit, a 20-minute telehealth coaching call, and 5 minutes in post-visit personalized follow-up*
*Care extending beyond designated time frames above will be prorated.
You do not need to be a patient at Untamed Iona or an EM Intensive participant to work with Candace. You simply need to know or love someone suffering with EM.
Reach out via email to connect@untamediona.com to learn about soonest upcoming available appointments.
When someone you love lives with erythromelalgia, it can be difficult to know what to say, how to help, or how to truly understand what they are experiencing.
Dr. Sparks created this resource as the exact support she wished her own family had while she was navigating life with erythromelalgia. After experiencing firsthand the physical, emotional, and relational challenges of EM, she designed this course to help loved ones move from confusion and helplessness toward greater understanding, compassion, and meaningful support.
The EM Support Person Course is a self-paced online resource for partners, family members, and friends who wants to better understand erythromelalgia and support someone living with this complex condition.
Inside the course, you will learn:
Why EM can be so difficult to understand from the outside
How to provide meaningful emotional and practical support with less effort
How to improve communication and connection during challenging moments
Learn at your own pace and gain the knowledge and tools to become a more informed and supportive presence for the person you love living with EM.
Partial scholarships are available for those with financial barriers. Contact connect@untamediona.com for more information.
Before I became a clinician helping others with erythromelalgia...
I was a patient desperately searching for hope.
The pain of 2016.
While I never dreamed of putting my feet on display, I do think unretouched photos speak volumes about healing.
The pleasure of today.
A photo is worth a thousand words. And a hot bath, a long walk, and a brain undistracted by immense pain is worth even more.
How I found healing
I know firsthand how frightening Erythromelalgia can be.
I also know what it feels like to wonder whether life will ever feel normal again.
I wrote the story I wish someone had handed me at the beginning of my journey.
Let me send you my free dose of hope:
How I Found Remission from Erythromelalgia
Inside, I share:
• how I developed EM
• the mistakes I made
• what changed everything
• what I wish I'd known years earlier
• the hope I want every EM patient to have
May my journey of healing,
Inform your journey of healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No.
The Intensive is an educational program designed to complement the care you receive from your own healthcare providers.
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No.
Individuals from anywhere are welcome to participate.
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We never want finances to be the sole barrier to access.
A limited number of reduced-cost registrations are available for individuals experiencing financial hardship. If cost is preventing you from participating, please contact us. We are happy to discuss available options.
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Yes, absolutely.
We offer the EM Intensive in a live group format to make this support more accessible and lower the cost of participation. Many people also find it incredibly valuable to connect with others who understand the unique challenges of living with erythromelalgia.
If you prefer more individualized support, EM Coaching with Candace is available before, during, or after the EM Intensive to help you implement strategies, navigate challenges, and stay supported throughout your journey.
Both options are designed to provide meaningful support — the best choice depends on the level of guidance and connection you are looking for.
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Yes. We encourage you to watch the course together with your spouse, partner, or immediate family members if that is helpful.
Each course purchase includes access for one email address/account through our learning platform. Because course access is licensed per purchase, we are only able to provide login access to a single email address. If additional individuals would like their own access, progress tracking, or course materials, we ask that they purchase their own enrollment.
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My goal isn't simply to provide information—it's to help you feel understood, supported, and empowered.
Whether you're participating in the Erythromelalgia Intensive, working with Candace, or taking the EM Support Person Course, you'll find a compassionate, thoughtful approach grounded in both clinical expertise and lived experience.
Many people tell us that this is the first time they've truly felt heard, believed, and hopeful about their future.
But don't take our word for it—here's what others have shared about their experience.
“Thank you for saving me.”
— C.D.“I began having symptoms in December 2021 and was diagnosed with erythromelalgia in January of 2022. My symptoms primarily included heat, redness, and pain in my hands, although I did experience redness and heat in my ears and face, as well. My EM symptoms continued to worsen in the months following my diagnosis, and my local general practitioner, dermatologist, and even the Mayo Clinic were unable to find anything that would successfully treat my EM and alleviate my flares. I was lucky enough to find Dr. Sparks during some desperate, middle of the night online searching, and she has been a life saver ever since! She was able to diagnose me with Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), and, through working with both Dr. Sparks and an Indoor Environmental Professional, we identified mycotoxins present in my house that were ultimately the cause of my erythromelalgia. Through treating my CIRS and performing specific cleaning protocols within my house to remove mycotoxins, I was able to entirely get rid of my EM flares in May of 2023 and significantly improve my other CIRS symptoms!”
— A.A.“I wanted to let you know how thankful I am for you giving me my life back. I’m basically a normal human again. My feet do not concern me anymore. I hardly think about them. As much of a positive person that I am, I was for sure in a bad place that felt like I would never escape and have to learn to live differently. It’s a miracle I don’t have to plan around chronic pain anymore. I even had my DRG removed a year and a half ago! I needed to let you know that you changed my life and my family’s life forever.”
— J.T.
Connect with some one who gets it- who understands your very rare disease—because she has literally walked in your shoes.
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