Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), is a type of chronic pain that can develop after someone gets injured, undergoes surgery, experiences a heart attack, or a stroke. This type of pain is relatively uncommon and still not well-understood by physicians. Usually, it is diagnosed simply by ruling out other types of chronic pain. CRPS/RSD occurs in an arm or leg and is proportionally much more painful than the severity of the original injury.
What are the symptoms of CRPS/RSD?
The symptoms of this condition might not manifest until months after the initial injury and can change over time. People who suffer from this chronic pain report feeling:
- Persistent burning or throbbing pain, usually in your arm, leg, hand or foot
- Unusual cold or touch sensitivity
- Swelling around the painful region
- Skin temperature alternates between sweaty and cold
- Skin changes color, ranging from white and mottled to red or blue
- The skin on the painful affected area might become tender, thin or shiny
- Changes in hair and nail growth
- Joint stiffness, swelling, and damage
- Muscle spasms, tremors, weakness atrophy
- Decreased ability to move the affected hand, foot, arm, or leg
Can I take legal action if I have been diagnosed with CRPS/RSD?
If you have been diagnosed with this chronic pain condition and believe that it originated from an injury you sustained because of someone else’s ignorance, you might have a case. Contacting a personal injury attorney as soon as possible will increase your chance of winning compensation. Personal injury cases have a statute of limitations of two years, so you must file your claim within two years of getting diagnosed with this condition.
Contact a New York CRPS injury lawyer
If you have developed CRPS/RSD as a result of an injury you sustained, you might be entitled to compensation for the harm you’ve suffered and enduring pain you’ve been forced to endure. Contact Hach & Rose, LLP to discuss your rights and options. Call our office at (347) 318-9604 or reach out online today.