The Cleveland Clinic describes Neuropathic Pain as a complex, chronic pain state that usually is accompanied by tissue injury. With neuropathic pain, the nerve fibers themselves might be damaged, dysfunctional, or injured. These damaged nerve fibers send incorrect signals to other pain centers. The impact of a nerve fiber injury includes a change in nerve function both at the site of injury and areas around the injury.
People who have chronic pain can have physical effects that are stressful on the body. These include tense muscles, limited ability to move around, a lack of energy, and appetite changes. Emotional effects of chronic pain include depression, anger, anxiety, and fear of re-injury. Such a fear might limit a person's ability to return to their regular work or leisure activities.
There have been several studies done over the fact that people with pets may be able to use their companion animals to practice techniques for managing chronic pain with less medication. Mary Janevic, an associate research scientist at the School of Public Health of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor stated “In part because of the opioid crisis, there is more interest than ever in how people can use cognitive and behavioral strategies to manage common chronic pain conditions with less reliance on medication." She lead a study detailed in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, on how pet owners over age 70 with chronic pain said their pets brought them joy and laughter, helped them relax, kept them active, and promoted other good habits that can also be marshaled to manage pain.
Emotional Support Animal
If you’ve ever had a pet, you know how comforting its presence can be. After all, it’s hard to dwell on a tough day when a cat or dog is cuddled up beside you. Aubrey H. Fine, EdD, professor emeritus and a licensed psychologist at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona states of Emotional Support Animals “These are pets who have been deemed necessary to help support an individual’s quality of life,” says Fine. The individuals typically are struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress, and find comfort in a bond with their pets. Emotional support animals are different from both therapy dogs, who go to institutions to comfort others, and service dogs, who are trained to perform tasks specific to an owner’s disability. “Emotional support animals do not have to be trained to do anything. They simply act as a security blanket,” says Renee Payne, CPDT-KA, director of training at the Good Dog Foundation.
What you need
If you think you could benefit from an ESA, “you have to get a letter of clearance from a physician or a mental health provider explaining that your animal provides support,” says Fine. You will need to present it when flying, or to your landlord if your housing typically doesn’t allow pets. The letter is the only documentation you need to certify your animal’s status as an ESA.
Be careful of scams here. There are ads all over the internet about registration services that you can pay for to get a "true" ESA certification or even ones that send you a little jacket or collar for your pet. Not the case here, some even offer you the provider letters as well. The best thing to do is go to your own treating physician and/or mental health provider and get them to write a letter for you. This is all you need to have your animal "certified"
Your ESA Rights
Unlike a service dog, ESA's are not allowed everywhere. Most restaurants and retailers will not allow your pet in—and they are not legally required to. However, you are legally allowed to fly with your ESA, thanks to the Air Carrier Access Act. Additionally, the Fair Housing Act ensures your ESA can always live with you. You cannot be charged extra, denied from application, or evicted because of your animal. These laws were put in place to make sure you are getting the emotional support needed.
Expect the rules on flying with your ESA to keep getting more stringent. For several months the transportation industry has been expecting the Department of Transpiration (DOT) to refine the policy around ESA's on airplanes amid a flurry news articles of dogs biting passengers etc. The current statement from the DOT can be read here and limits the species and breeds, identifies the documentation required (can also require proof of vaccination, and/or training) as well as lays out the other requirements.
As far as your ESA living with you, you are entitled to housing in "no pets" policy buildings and not required to pay any extra fees for your ESA and have no weight or breed restrictions posed on you, however you do not have a right to bring in things such as horses, llamas, or wild animals into apartment complexes. As long as the provider deems it, you can also have more than one ESA, i.e. three cats. To notify you landlord of your ESA you would want to request accommodations of the ESA and present them with the ESA letter you obtained from your provider. There have been a few apartment management companies have been known to discriminate against emotional support animal owners by not extending leases or flat out rejecting their applications. This is not only unethical, but illegal as well. If you are facing these types of discrimination, you can file a complaint with the HUD here. A landlord can refuse you housing or evict if your ESA compromises the safety to the other tenants or causes them undue financial hardship. My personal suggestion would be to email the landlord after the lease is signed about your ESA including your provider certification.
Regardless whether you go the ESA route, pets are a pleasure and gift to us all!
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