Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after an Accident
The physical toll taken by a personal injury often lasts for months after the accident occurs —sometimes years. After a traumatic injury, some accident victims are afflicted with a painful condition known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS. Learn more about this condition and how it is caused below, and contact a knowledgeable Texas personal injury lawyer for more information.
What is CRPS or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
CRPS is a chronic pain condition that tends to affect a single leg, hand, arm or foot after an injury. Doctors believe that the condition is the result of damage to the central nervous system (the brain and spine) or peripheral nervous system (the nerves traveling between the central nervous system and extremities). CRPS is understood as an amplified response to a traumatic injury. There are two forms of CRPS:
- CRPS-I: This condition, formerly known as Reflex Sympathy Dystrophy (RSD) syndrome, afflicts those without a diagnosed nerve injury.
- CRPS-II: Formerly known as Causalgia, this is the diagnosis for someone with CRPS symptoms who has an associated and diagnosed nerve injury.
What are the symptoms of CRPS?
The primary symptom of CRPS is serious, sometimes constant, pain in the affected limb. Some patients describe it as a squeezing type of pain, while others describe the pain as having a burning or pins-and-needles quality. Other common symptoms can include:
- Allodynia, or increased sensitivity on the affected area making normal touch extremely painful
- The skin on the affected area appears thin and shiny
- Difficulty moving the injured limb, either due to tremors or jerking, or difficulty with coordination
- Unusual sweating patterns or changes in nail or hair growth in affected area
- Stiffness in the joints
- Pain that spreads from the limb to the surrounding area
How does CRPS develop?
While the causes of the disease can vary , 90% of all those diagnosed with CRPS suffered a traumatic injury. The injuries that result in CRPS most frequently include:
- soft tissue injuries, such as cuts, burns, or bruises
- fractures or limb immobilization in a cast after a break
- sprains and strains
- medical procedures to treat injuries
CRPS can be caused by injuries commonly suffered in personal injury accidents such as a slip-and-fall, motor vehicle accident, or incident of medical malpractice. Victims of these accidents may have a right to seek money damages for their pain and suffering or treatment costs from a CRPS diagnosis through a personal injury lawsuit.
If you’ve been diagnosed with CRPS after a personal injury accident in Texas, find out if you should file a lawsuit for your damages by contacting the knowledgeable and seasoned Beaumont personal injury lawyers at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices for a consultation, at 409-835-3000.
