What Is CRPS and Its Symptoms? A Guide for Injury Victims

Something isn't right. You had an accident at work weeks ago. Maybe you were rear ended while driving home. The injury seemed minor at first, but now the pain is unbearable. Your doctor just mentioned something called CRPS, and you have no idea what that means.

Let's talk about what CRPS is and the symptoms you need to watch for.

Understanding CRPS

CRPS stands for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. You might also hear it called RSD reflex sympathetic dystrophy. It's a nerve disorder that causes intense, constant pain that's way worse than the original injury should cause.

Here's what makes CRPS so scary. It can start after something as simple as a slip and fall, a minor construction site accident, or even after getting epidural injections for a bulging disc. The injury heals, but the pain doesn't stop. In fact, it gets much worse.

The Main Symptoms of CRPS

The burning pain is usually the first sign. People describe it as feeling like your arm or leg is constantly on fire. This isn't normal pain from a back injury or neck injury. This is pain that makes you want to scream.

Your skin changes in strange ways. It might turn red, blue, or pale. The temperature of your affected limb changes too. Sometimes it feels burning hot. Other times it's ice cold compared to the rest of your body.

Swelling happens even though the original injury has healed. Your hand, foot, arm, or leg puffs up and stays swollen. This isn't like the swelling you'd see right after being hit in the rear or having a trip and fall accident.

More Warning Signs to Watch For

Increased sensitivity is a major symptom of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Even a gentle breeze or a light touch causes terrible pain. Putting on clothes or having someone barely brush against you feels like torture.

Your skin texture changes. It might become shiny, thin, or sweaty. Sometimes it gets dry and scaly. These changes don't match what you'd expect from a normal healing process after rear ended accidents or construction site injuries.

Stiffness and decreased mobility show up as CRPS progresses. Your joints don't want to move. Muscles become weak and begin to waste away. This is different from needing fusion surgery or hip replacements. This happens because your nervous system is misfiring.

How CRPS Affects Your Daily Life

Imagine trying to work when touching a keyboard sends shooting pain through your arm. Think about trying to walk when every step feels like your foot is being crushed. That's what people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome deal with every single day.

You've probably dealt with pain before. Maybe you've had burn injuries or needed treatment for a herniated disc case. But CRPS is different. It's relentless. It doesn't respond to normal pain medications the way other injuries do.

Sleep becomes impossible when the burning pain never stops. You can't hold your children or grandchildren because their touch hurts too much. Simple tasks like grocery shopping or getting dressed become major challenges.

When CRPS Follows an Accident

Many people develop Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after accidents that weren't their fault. You might have suffered a degloving injury at a construction site. Perhaps you were rear ended by someone texting while driving. Maybe medical malpractice during a procedure for your back injury triggered this condition.

Now you're stuck with symptoms that won't go away. You need expensive treatments. You can't work. The medical bills keep piling up. And the person responsible for your original injury thinks they're off the hook.

Getting the Help You Deserve

If you're experiencing symptoms of CRPS after an accident or injury caused by someone else's negligence, you need to act fast. Early treatment can make a huge difference in stopping this condition from getting worse.

But treatment costs money. Physical therapy, nerve blocks, medications, and specialist visits add up quickly. When you're already dealing with lost wages because you can't work, these costs can destroy your family's finances.

You shouldn't have to pay for someone else's mistake. Whether your CRPS developed after rear ended accidents, construction site injuries, or medical errors, the responsible party needs to be held accountable.

At Segal Law Firm, we understand that CRPS changes everything. We've helped working people just like you fight for compensation when Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has turned their lives upside down.

Don't ignore the symptoms. Don't let insurance companies tell you it's not that serious. Get the medical care and legal help you need to fight back.