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Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic, painful nerve condition that affects more than a million Americans. For people with the disorder, an injury as minor as a fractured wrist or twisted ankle can cause the nerves to flare up, causing severe and constant pain. The pain can last for years and even spread to other parts of the body.

We specialize in emerging cases involving CRPS throughout the state of California. Call our offices immediately so we can protect your rights, refer you to the very best medical specialists, and work to recover all of your CRPS-related expenses.

CRPS has been referred to as the mysterious illness as many CRPS cases go undiagnosed. In fact, many doctors once felt it was more of psychosomatic condition, rather a physical one. Today, awareness is increasing but pain management specialists say not enough. The average patient sees 8 to 10 doctors before a CRPS diagnosis is made according to a survey by American RSDHope.

How painful is CRPS? Extremely.

Experts say the severity of the pain outranks cancer as the most painful disease on McGill Pain Index. The sensation can be centralized in place, or it can migrate to one or all of a person’s extremities. Even a light touch or minor changes in temperature can be agonizing for CRPS patients.

CRPS symptoms include:

• Unexplained severe pain and burning sensations
• Extreme skin sensitivity to touch and temperature
• Swelling
• Redness

No cure, only pain management therapy

Experts believe CRPS complicates 1 of every 1,200 traumatic injuries. There is no cure. Doctors and pain management specialists who understand the condition can only treat CRPS symptoms and try to relieve the patient’s discomfort. Practioners can prescribe sympathetic nerve blocks – ranging from acetaminophen and ibuprofen to morphine and CRPS ketamine infusion therapy – to reduce pain. None of the medications, however, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for CRPS treatment. RSDS can keep you up to date on all the latest treatments.

CRPS Therapies and Treatments

• CRPS Ketamine Infusion Therapy
• CRPS Physical Therapy
• CRPS Cognitive Therapy
• CRPS Drug Therapy

Another treatment, although not widely used, involves an implant. Doctors can place a motor cortex electrical stimulator near the base of the spinal cord or the injured limb, allowing it to send low-level electrical signals to specific nerves and blocks pain signals from reaching the brain.

If CRPS is left not treated by pain management therapy, debilitating complications may arise such as:

• Chronic nerve pain
• Loss of dexterity
• Muscle atrophy
• Permanent disability

Early diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is critical

Accidents happen. But, if you find yourself on the receiving end of a serious laceration, blunt force trauma, or a soft tissue injury it is important that you don’t confuse your discomfort with another medical condition. Early diagnosis of CRPS is critical to your well being and future overall health.

The cost of CRPS is astronomical. An experienced personal injury attorney can help alleviate some of the pain.

Experts believe CRPS complicates 1 of every 1,200 traumatic injuries, and some of those traumatic injuries may not have been your fault. So, just as you may be eligible for compensation for your initial injury, if someone else’s negligence is at fault, you deserve compensation for your CRPS condition as well.