Key Takeaways

  • RSD/CRPS is a chronic, progressive pain condition affecting extremities, often triggered by major accidents or nerve injuries.
  • Symptoms include severe burning pain, swelling, temperature sensitivity, red skin, abnormal sweating, and reduced joint mobility.
  • The disease progresses through three stages and worsens over time, requiring early diagnosis and treatment.
  • Treatments can include TENS therapy, surgical or chemical sympathectomy, physical therapy, psychotherapy, and medications.
  • Victims of work-related or accident-induced RSD/CRPS may be entitled to financial compensation through legal claims.

A workplace accident that seemed to produce a manageable injury can turn into something far more serious when reflex sympathetic dystrophy develops. The burning pain, extreme sensitivity, and progressive symptoms of this condition, also called complex regional pain syndrome, can persist for months or years and fundamentally alter a person’s ability to work and live normally.

If you developed this condition following a work-related accident in Indiana, the Indianapolis work injury attorneys at Wagner Reese can help you understand your legal options and pursue the full compensation your situation requires.

What Is Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy?

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), also referred to clinically as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a chronic pain condition that typically affects the arms, legs, hands, or feet. It develops after an injury to a limb and involves a malfunction in the nervous system that causes the pain response to continue and intensify long after the original injury would ordinarily have healed.

RSD is frequently triggered by traumatic injury, including injuries from workplace accidents, falls, and crush events. The condition tends to progress through stages and worsen over time without proper treatment. Common symptoms include:

  • Severe burning or aching pain in the affected limb
  • Extreme sensitivity to touch or temperature changes
  • Swelling and changes in skin color or temperature
  • Abnormal sweating patterns in the affected area
  • Reduced range of motion and joint stiffness
  • Changes in hair and nail growth over the affected region

These symptoms can be profoundly disabling and make it impossible to continue performing physically demanding work or any occupation that requires consistent use of the affected limb.

How RSD Develops After a Workplace Injury

Many RSD cases follow a workplace injury that initially appeared straightforward. A hand caught in machinery, a fall from height, a crush injury, or severe soft tissue damage can all trigger the neurological changes that lead to this condition. The difficulty is that RSD often becomes clinically identifiable weeks or months after the original injury, by which time the connection to the workplace event may be disputed.

Medical documentation from the time of injury through the development of symptoms is essential for establishing that your RSD diagnosis is connected to your workplace accident. An attorney can help gather and preserve this documentation and identify the medical professionals needed to support your claim.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A physician may diagnose CRPS through clinical assessment of symptoms, skin temperature evaluation, bone scanning, or nerve conduction studies. Early diagnosis matters because earlier treatment is generally associated with better long-term outcomes. Treatment approaches for RSD can include sympathetic nerve blocks, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), physical and occupational therapy, psychotherapy, and medication management. Some cases require surgical intervention. The cost and duration of treatment can be significant, which underscores the importance of pursuing full compensation rather than accepting an early, undervalued settlement.

Compensation Available for Work-Related RSD

If your RSD resulted from a work accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation beyond workers’ compensation alone. Available damages can include current and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, costs of ongoing rehabilitation and therapy, and pain and suffering reflecting the chronic, progressive nature of the condition.

Insurance companies frequently minimize or dispute RSD claims because the condition is difficult to quantify and often not well understood by adjusters. Having an attorney who can document your condition, work with medical professionals, and demonstrate the full scope of your losses makes a significant difference in the outcome of your case.

Contact the Work Injury Attorneys at Wagner Reese

If you developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy or complex regional pain syndrome after a work-related accident in Indiana, Wagner Reese is prepared to help you pursue the compensation your condition requires. Our attorneys have the resources to build a strong case in complex injury matters and the experience to negotiate with insurers who attempt to undervalue chronic pain conditions.

Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

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