Complex Regional Pain Syndrome & Maryland Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation covers a variety of job-related injuries, accidents, and occupational diseases. It is never easy when you are too ill to work and then need to chase down the benefits to which you are entitled. It is even more difficult when you suffer from a relatively rare medical condition that may be a challenging workers’ comp claim. Many patients diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) experience just that.
What is CRPS?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is also referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), so you may sometimes hear these terms used interchangeably. The National Institute of Health (NIH) describes CRPS as “a broad term describing excess and prolonged pain and inflammation that follows an injury to an arm or leg. CRPS used to be known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) and causalgia. People with CRPS have changing combinations of spontaneous pain or excess pain that is much greater than normal following something as mild as a touch.”
An individual does not have to suffer a catastrophic injury to develop CRPS; even a small trauma to an arm or leg can result in the condition for some patients. CRPS is relatively uncommon, and the NIH continues to research its exact causes to better understand and treat the condition. However, the medical community believes it involves a dysfunction of the nervous system.
What are the symptoms of CRPS?
The NIH lists the following symptoms of CRPS and RSD, although not every patient experiences every symptom:
- Unprovoked or spontaneous pain that’s either constant or fluctuates with activity. Some patients may even experience “mirror pain” in the opposite limb, thought to occur due to secondary involvement of spinal cord nerve cells.
- Excess or prolonged pain after contact. CRPS often causes increased sensitivity in the affected area or limb, called allodynia. Allodynia makes light touch and normal physical contact extremely painful.
- Changes in skin temperature, color, or swelling. The injured limb may be warmer or cooler to the touch than the opposite limb. The skin might become discolored and swell due to abnormal blood flow.
- Changes in skin texture from insufficient delivery of nutrients and oxygen. Skin may become thin and shiny, or in other patients it may become thick and scaly. Often, avoiding washing or treating painful skin can contribute to buildup.
- Abnormal nail and hair growth. Patients may notice that hair and nails grow abnormally on the affected limb, either rapidly or not at all. This occurs due to fluctuations in blood circulation.
- Stiffness in affected joints. When a patient reduces movement in the limb due to pain or immobility, this leads to reduced flexibility of the tendons and ligaments.
- Wasting away or excess bone growth. CRPS can be greatly affected by bone cysts, breaks, and fractures – either exacerbating the condition or initiating it in the first place.
- Impaired muscle strength. Although most patients with CRPS do not have direct injury to the nerve fibers that control the muscles, many report a reduced ability to move the affected body part.
If you are diagnosed with CRPS, your doctor will likely recommend a course of treatment that includes physical therapy, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and other interventions.
Workers’ compensation benefits for CRPS/ RSD
Because of the seriousness of the condition, CRPS workers’ compensation claims can be expensive for employers and their insurance companies, and you may find your claim denied. When you have a legitimate claim for CRPS, this is unacceptable. RSD and CRPS can be a catastrophic injury, as it can affect one or both of your arms or legs, forcing you out of work and into recovery.
You may be eligible for coverage of your medical bills, wage loss, and disability benefits, depending on the extent of your injuries. Experienced legal counsel can help you file a strong workers’ compensation claim.
The Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. represent employees injured on the job. When you need help filing a claim, or if your claim is denied, get in touch with one of our attorneys for dedicated representation. To schedule a free consultation about your case, give our Maryland offices a call today at 410-730-7737 or use our contact form.
Joshua Plaxen graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2008 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2012 magna cum laude. He was also inducted into the Heuisler Honor Society for finishing in the top ten percent of his class. During law school, Joshua served on the Executive Board of the University of Baltimore Law Review.