Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a little-understood medical condition which can dramatically impair a person’s quality of life. If you are feeling burning, pain, or stiffness in a limb, then you might be suffering from CRPS. This syndrome is difficult to treat, and many victims are unable to resume their normal lives. Instead they struggle to manage pain which has no obvious end in sight.
Contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. to talk about your case with an Iowa personal injury lawyer. Our firm has offices in Iowa City and Waterloo, but we can come out to see you if circumstances warrant. We have helped clients document their pain and how it has disrupted their lives, and we have fought for fair compensation. We have experience with motor vehicle accidents, premises liability claims, and other accidents. Don’t let anyone minimize the pain you are feeling. Get help today.
A Closer Look at Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Doctors also refer to CRPS as “reflex sympathetic dystrophy.” It is a chronic condition in which a person experiences many uncomfortable symptoms:
- Skin discoloration
- Extreme sensitivity
- Burning sensation
- Impaired motor skills
- Stiffness
- Clamminess or changes in temperature
CRPS can affect any limb, such as leg or arm. This disorder can also spread to other parts of the body. For example, you might feel pain and sensitivity in your left leg. Over time, these symptoms migrate to your right leg.
CRPS is one of the most painful chronic conditions a person can suffer. Many people are completely disabled after coming down with the syndrome. Unfortunately, CRPS has no single diagnostic test. Instead, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and try to exclude other possible causes of pain. You might have an MRI or X-ray to see if a broken bone or injured soft tissue is really the source of your pain.
Treating Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Your doctor will arrive at a treatment plan, based on your symptoms. For example, you might have physical therapy, psychological counseling, or spinal cord stimulation. Heat therapy can warm up limbs which are clammy and cold, while corticosteroid injections in your affected limb can help reduce inflammation and provide relief. Some people with CRPS go into remission after receiving treatment and are free of pain, at least temporarily.
Your doctor should come up with a pain management plan. This is increasingly difficult due to possible addiction to painkillers. You might be given regular over-the-counter medications such as Aleve or Advil.
A patient might also benefit from occupational therapy. As an example, you might learn new ways of getting dressed, even when you are feeling extreme sensitivity or pain. Occupational therapy helps people maintain independence.
Another complication with CRPS is dealing with people who question whether you are really feeling pain. Some patients report that their own families aren’t sure they are really experiencing such distressing symptoms. Remember to seek psychological support as you recover from your accident.
What Accidents Can Lead to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Any traumatic accident might lead to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Doctors are not entirely sure of the mechanism that turns a traumatic accident into CRPS. One possibility is that the body’s inflammatory response leads to CRPS.
You could end up with pain in a limb after:
- Car crashes
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle collisions
- Pedestrian collisions
- Slip and falls
- Workplace accidents, including falls and “struck by” accidents
You might not be able to tell immediately if the pain you are feeling stems from a broken bone or nerve damage. Many people only slowly become aware of CRPS when their body heals—yet the intense pain remains.
Remember to go to the hospital after an accident. But also monitor your pain in the weeks and months after the accident. CRPS can emerge many months after you think you’ve healed.
Compensation for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Accident victims should call our firm to speak with an Iowa personal injury lawyer. You have a right to see financial compensation after an accident when someone’s negligence ends up hurting you. Some examples include:
- Careless or distracted drivers crash into you.
- A property owner fails to fix hazards or warn you of them.
- A defective product blows up in your face.
You can seek compensation for any economic loss, like medical care. If you have prescription medications or require spinal stimulation, then a settlement should cover those expenses.
But you should also receive something for your pain and bodily suffering. CRPS certainly warrants financial compensation. How much you can receive will depend on many factors, such as how well you can document your pain.
We might try to get information from your doctor about your pain management regime. We can also talk with family members about how your life has changed after the accident. Complex, chronic pain is excruciating, and some people slip into a depression. In fact, CRPS can make it harder for your body to heal.
Unfortunately, many insurance adjusters remain skeptical of CRPS. Like too many people, they don’t think it’s a real medical condition. They might even tell you it’s all in your head. Let us help you build an injury claim. We always strive to obtain the most compensation for our clients’ bodily pain following a wreck. Car and other liability insurance will pay more than your medical bills and lost wages. It should also cover intangible losses like pain and suffering.
Are You Suffering from Chronic Pain? Speak with an Iowa Personal Injury Lawyer
Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C., is an established law firm which is always available to clients, 24/7. We have the decades of experience with personal injury claims that you need when fighting with an insurance company. Don’t let a claims representative minimize your pain and suffering. We can work with your medical team to document how CRPS is impacting your life.
Give our office a call. We offer free consultations to those hurt in accidents. If you are in too much pain to travel to Iowa City or Waterloo, then we can come visit you.