CRPS Solicitors - Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Claims

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can develop after you suffer an injury in an accident. Common triggers can include:

• A musculo-skeletal injury such as a crush injury or injury to the nerve
• Surgery, often procedures to repair fractures or damaged nerves after injuries to hands
• Being immobilised in a cast or splint
• Minor injuries such as a cut to the finger

CRPS is recognised and listed as a pain syndrome in its own right which you can develop after an injury in a publication call the Judicial College Guidelines which all lawyers, including solicitors, barrister and Judges refer to when assessing the value of a personal injury claim.

If you suffer an injury and experience severe persisting pain, there are several symptoms of CRPS to look out for, including:

• A burning, intense stabbing pain
• Experiencing pain from the lightest of touches (known as allodynia)
• An extreme pain response to painful stimulation
• Continued intense pain after an injury, when you’d normally have expected to have fully recovered
• Abnormal swelling in the area affected (known as oedema)
• Skin colour changes, such as mottling, redness
• Excessive sweating in the affected area
• Abnormal hair and/or nail growth
• Abnormal skin temperature in the affected area
• Tender and stiff joints
• Restricted or painful movement
• Cracked, grooved or brittle nails
• Tremors and muscle spasms (known as dystonia)

You might not experience all of the symptoms but if you have a combination of a few of these symptoms it is always recommended to refer you to a leading pain specialist in CRPS for a diagnosis.

There are two main types of CRPS including a third sub type.

Type 1 -  

Where the symptoms come on after a trauma or injury to the affected area, but where there’s no actual damage to the nerves.   

Type 2 -  

This comes on after a distinct injury to the nerve.  

If you experience any of these unusual symptoms or you’re suffering with burning and intense pain that doesn’t seem to be improving, we’d strongly recommend you to seek medical advice and ask to be referred to your local pain clinic for a diagnosis.  The sooner you get a diagnosis, the sooner you can get the treatment you need.

CRPS – NOS (Not Otherwise Specified)

This is a third sub type which has been added for the diagnostic criteria specialists used to diagnose CRPS ( the Budapest Criteria ) where some people display some but not all of the signs and symptoms set out in the criteria.