Car crashes vary in severity from fender-benders to catastrophic collisions. Motor vehicle wrecks cause many different types of injuries and challenges for the people involved in the collisions. Some people lose body parts during collisions or suffer spinal cord injuries that forever limit their functional abilities.
Compared to that, a broken bone might seem like a minor issue. Doctors can diagnose and set a broken bone in a few hours, and most patients achieve a full recovery after a fracture. However, a fracture acquired in a motor vehicle collision could potentially lead to a much more serious medical condition in the future.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) has an association with fractures and similar trauma. CRPS was previously called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). What happens after someone develops CRPS because of an injury sustained in a car crash?
Compensation claims quickly become complicated
CRPS is not a condition that someone notices at the scene of the crash. Instead, it is the result of the body healing improperly after a traumatic injury. People acquire nerve damage that can lead to a persistent sense of pain even after the initial injury heals. Their CRPS symptoms can also include reduced range of motion and limited strength in the affected body part.
People may find that they cannot perform the same tasks as they did before their injury. In some cases, even basic tasks, like taking a shower, can become inordinately painful. Changes in tissue growth, differences in skin temperature and a host of other symptoms can affect someone’s daily life.
Unlike the broken bones that cause CRPS, this condition does not generally respond well to medical treatment. It does not have a cure, and it may very well progress or worsen as someone ages. CRPS can drastically increase the total economic impact of car crash injuries.
People with this condition may need to pursue a lawsuit against those responsible for their harm because insurance may simply be unable to compensate them for a lifetime of medical expenses and lost wages. Cases involving unusual and debilitating injuries like CRPS are often difficult for injured people to handle on their own. Thankfully, connecting with the right support can make a major difference for those coping with life-altering injuries after a car wreck.