Accidents and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Serious motor vehicle accidents, trip-and-fall accidents, and medical errors can not only cause acute injuries that can require expensive treatments; they can also lead to long-term conditions with no easy cure. Some traumatic accident victims will develop what is known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome as a result of their injuries. Learn more about this condition below, and contact an experienced Hudson Valley personal injury lawyer if you’ve suffered major injuries after an accident.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS, is a rare and painful disorder that causes serious, often constant, pain in a single extremity such as a hand, finger, foot, arm, or leg. CRPS arises when the patient suffers damage to the nerves or nervous system, typically in the event of a trauma or injury accident. Patients with CRPS often describe experiencing a squeezing, burning, or pins-and-needles form of pain. CRPS can resolve in a matter of months, but it can also last for years, causing long-term disability. The pain associated with CRPS is often constant.
There is no single test used to diagnose CRPS. Instead, doctors look for certain symptoms in patients, in addition to the severe pain in a limb or extremity that is the disorder’s primary feature. One key symptom is irregularities with the skin around the site of the injury. Often, circulation at the injury site is dysfunctional, resulting in discolored skin and poor temperature regulation. Skin might become blue, purple, pale, red, or blotchy. Patients often experience inflammation at the injury site. Skin may appear shiny and stretched thin. Patients may also experience abnormal sweating, hair, or nail growth at the epicenter of the pain. Additionally, some patients have problems with muscle coordination, joint swelling, stiffness, or tremors.
The nerve damage commonly associated with CRPS often stems from a traumatic injury. Common traumas that have been found to lead to CRPS include:
- Bone fractures
- Burns
- Lacerations
- Sprains and strains
- Medical procedures, even as minor as a needle stick
These sorts of injuries can often be caused by an injury accident, such as a motor vehicle collision or slip-and fall. If an accident victim has a claim against the at-fault actor for their injuries, they may also be entitled to money damages to help treat the symptoms of CRPS. A lawyer can help you decide if you should file a lawsuit for your expenses after an accident.
For assistance in getting the award of damages you deserve after an accident in New York, contact the knowledgeable, seasoned, and effective Hudson Valley personal injury lawyers at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP at 845-236-4411 (Marlboro), or at 845-331-4100 (Kingston).
