Complex Regional Pain Symptom

Recovering from an injury can be a slow and painful process even under normal conditions. Sadly, some injured people experience medical complications, such as infections or badly healed fractures, which make their suffering last even longer. One such complication that has not received a good deal of attention is complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS), also known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) or causalgia.

Many workers suffering some CPRS have difficulty receiving the medical compensation and disability payments they need. Some are even accused of malingering, or pretending to be hurt. If you are experiencing unfair roadblocks to receiving the assistance you need, the Des Moines CPRS workers’ compensation lawyers of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. can help.

Causes and Symptoms

Medical researchers are not sure what causes some people to develop CPRS. One theory is that some injuries cause nerve damage that result in long-lasting and intense pain. Another theory is that CPRS is caused by an overreaction to injuries by the immune system.

Whatever its causes, reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is a painful and frustrating condition. Its defining characteristic is pain from an injury that increases over time, instead of lessening as the wound heals. It usually affects the hands, feet, arms, or legs. In severe cases, pain that begins from a relatively small wound may spread over the entire limb.

Other common characteristics of CPRS include:

• Redness and swelling over the original injury
• Sweating skin over the affected area
• Skin that becomes highly sensitive to touch

For many sufferers of causalgia, these symptoms are so painful that they are unable to return to work until an effective treatment is found.

CPRS Treatment

Unfortunately there is no cure for CPRS. Instead, doctors much treat the symptoms with painkillers, sympathetic nerve blockers, corticosteroids, and/or physical therapy. The effectiveness of these treatments will vary widely from patient to patient. None have been shown to cause long-term relief of symptoms.

Contact a Des Moines Workers’ Compensation Attorney

If you or a member of your family is suffering from complex regional pain syndrome after a work injury, the Des Moines CPRS workers’ compensation attorneys of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. will fight for you. Contact us at 877-327-2600.