Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) or reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a condition characterized by intense pain that is out of proportion to the severity of the initial trauma. Nerve impulses are sent to one site on the body, usually a limb, causing extreme pain, discoloration, swelling, and skin temperature changes in the affected area. The symptoms can spread from one limb to another without any new injury.
It generally develops after an injury. It cannot be diagnosed with one specific test. Instead, tests are done to rule out other diagnoses. Doctors do not generally consider the possibility of CRPS or RSD until after weeks or months of treatment has failed to relieve the patient’s pain.
CRPS has no cure. It is treated by pain management.
Claims for CRPS or RSD are typically met with skepticism by insurance companies. Our law firm has handled many CRPS cases over the years. We consider the possibility of CRPS if a client complains of disproportionately severe pain that lasts longer than would be expected from the initial trauma. Because the pain is so severe, it is critical that these claims be properly worked up so that CRPS victims can get the substantial compensation that they deserve.
If you were injured in an accident and may have suffered CRPS, contact our attorneys for a free consultation. (800) 999-9948.