Some Facts About Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) and Your Atlanta Injury Case

Our firm has developed a specialty in complex brain and nerve injuries
including a devastating pain syndrome called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
(RSD) also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Because CRPS is
often misunderstood by both doctors and lawyers, many lawyers either
mishandle CRPS cases or won’t take them on. Our firm is different.
Over the last 6-7 years our Atlanta serious injury law firm has been involved in litigation on behalf of dozens of clients with CRPS. As a result, we believe we (a) have an
detailed understanding of the mechanism and medicine underlying CRPS so that
we can explain it simply and powerfully to a jury; (b) are now familiar with
the top experts in the U.S. to help us evaluate our client and testify as an
expert at trial to help the jury understand this horrible injury; and (c)
are confident that we can explain CRPS to a jury and help them understand
the magnitude of our client’s injury.
Our trial results speak for themselves. In the last two CRPS cases we took
to trial we obtained verdicts of $1.25 Million on behalf of a burn/CRPS I
client and $5.4 Million on behalf of a needle-stick/CRPS II. Our firm is
currently involved in representing clients with CRPS in Georgia, Tennessee
and Mississippi.
Some brief facts about CRPS:
CRPS is a condition characterized by severe, chronic pain often associated
with stinging or burning, edema (tissue swelling), warmth or coolness,
and/or discoloration or shiny skin. CRPS occurs mainly after trauma, such as
a broken bone or surgery to an extremity. Bone fracture or injury to a limb
is considered to be the leading cause of RSD. Bone fracture accounts for up
to 45-50% of CRPS cases. However, CRPS can sometimes occur with no
triggering event.
Surgery on an extremity is also a leading cause of onset. For example, it
is estimated that up to 19% of patients with CRPS have undergone knee
replacement surgery.
There are 2 types of CRPS. Type 1 is where the pain is not associated with
any known nerve injury. Type 2 CRPS (which is also called causalgia) is
where the pain can be traced to a specific nerve injury.
Most afflicted with CRPS suffer great pain and distress. In addition to the
severe pain, they also may experience severe reduction in their quality of
life. Depression, fear, anxiety, and anger are all common when suffering
with CRPS.
The stages of CRPS are as follows:
Acute (three to six months) includes: burning, sweating, flushing,
blanching, swelling, pain and tenderness.
Dystrophic (three to six months) – skin changes of shiny, thickened skin,
but diminished swelling and flushing, muscle stiffness and atrophy, early
bone loss. These symptoms usually occur 3 – 6 months after RSD has
developed.
Atropic (may be long standing) – loss of motion of the affected limb,
thinning of fatty layers under the skin, and significant osteoporosis.
CRPS occurs most frequently in people between the ages of 50 – 70 years old.
The median onset age is 46 – 52 years old.
Interestingly, adult females are affected at a rate three times higher than
males. The female to male ratio is approximately 4 to 1.
Although the symptoms and clinical features of CRPS can vary from patient to
patient, the one common feature that is shared by all is severe pain that is
disproportionate to the original injury.
In children, the ratio of lower limb involvement to upper limb is
approximately 5 to 1. In other words, children usually get CRPS in their
legs rather than arms. It is also more common in Caucasian women than in
non-Caucasians.
For more information regarding RSD in children, please refer to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Children and Adolescents.

If you think you may be suffering from CRPS as the result of an injury or
accident, contact us at the Tyrone Law Firm and talk to us about your
specific situation. Our number is 404-377-0017. We will sit down with you
free of charge and discuss what we can do for you. If we can’t help you, we
will do our best to put you in the hands of lawyers who can.