Complex Regional Pain Syndrome And South Carolina Car Accidents
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a set of troublesome symptoms that result from an injury to a nerve in the arm or leg. The symptoms affect the body part controlled by the affected nerve or nerves, and can sometimes affect an entire hand, arm, or leg. Patients with CRPS may experience severe pain that comes and goes spontaneously or in response to a stimulus that would not ordinarily cause pain, such as a very light touch. They may also experience numbness or tingling in the affected limb. Because the affected nerve sends dysfunctional signals to the affected body part, the color and texture of the skin in the affected area may be different from other areas of the body, and the sweat glands may produce more sweat or less sweat than in other areas. Likewise, the growth or hair and nails on the affected hand or foot may be different from other parts of the body. Traumatic injuries, such as sprains and fractures, are the most common cause of CRPS, and the condition often presents as pain that is much more severe than one would expect based on clinical examination or X-rays. If you are suffering from severe pain in one arm or leg after incurring apparently minor injuries in a car accident, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.
Treatments for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Chronic regional pain syndrome resolves as the nerves heal, but this can take a long time. Therefore, treatment is focused on managing symptoms. Sometimes doctors recommend physical therapy to improve function in the affected body parts and over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to manage pain. They may prescribe steroids to reduce swelling; medications such as gabapentin or nortriptyline, which are indicated for other neuropathic pain conditions, may also be effective in the treatment of CRPS. If CRPS is affecting the bones near the affected nerve, doctors may also prescribe bisphosphonates.
What Should You Do If You Developed CRPS After a Car Accident Injury?
Most cases of CRPS are not permanent, but CRPS is a painful condition, and it can interfere with your ability to work. If you have been injured in a car accident, it is the responsibility of the at fault driver or the at fault driver’s insurance company to pay for your accident-related financial losses, including medical bills resulting from accident-related injuries. Most patients with CRPS do not require hospitalization or surgery, so the cost of treatment usually falls within the at fault driver’s policy limits. Getting the insurance company to pay enough to cover the entire cost of your medical bills can be a challenge, though. The earlier in the process you contact a personal injury lawyer, the less time it takes to get the money you need.
Let Us Help You Today
The car accident lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you are suffering from chronic pain after being injured in a car accident. Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.
Source:
ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/complex-regional-pain-syndrome
