Laws that require drivers to carry liability insurance may prevent drivers from suffering catastrophic financial losses after relatively minor car accidents, and they may prevent costly lawsuits, but ultimately, insurance companies' main goal is to increase their profits by paying as little as they can on each claim, even as they collect premiums from every driver on the road. This is especially true when you file a claim that resulted in injuries that cause chronic pain. Insurance companies may be willing to admit that the bruises and scrapes on your skin resulted from the accident, but they will look for every opportunity to attribute your pain to anything else they can think of, from pre-existing injuries to old age. If you need help getting a sufficient insurance settlement for injuries resulting from a car accident, contact a Spokane auto accident lawyer.

What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) happens when a patient continues to suffer from pain and other troublesome symptoms in an injured body part long after the original injury has healed. It occurs when a nerve gets damaged as a result of a traumatic injury, such as a fracture or sprain. The main cause of CRPS is accidental injuries, such as from car accidents or accidental falls.

The main symptom of CRPS is pain in the arm, leg, hand, or foot where the acute injury occurred. Dysfunction from the damaged nerve can also cause other symptoms in the affected body part, such as tingling, numbness, stiffness, or weakness. The skin in the affected area may even differ in temperature, color, and texture from the rest of the body. Hair and nail growth and sweat production on an affected hand or foot might also be different.

Managing Symptoms of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

The bad news is that there is no cure for complex regional pain syndrome. The good news is that it is not usually permanent, and symptoms usually gradually go away after a few months to a year. The symptoms can, however, be severe enough that they interfere with your ability to work and engage in some everyday tasks. Treatment for CRPS focuses on the management of symptoms; it does not usually require surgery or hospital stays. The goal of treatment is to maintain the functionality of the affected body part while the nerves heal and to enable the patient to continue ordinary activities as much as possible. Therefore, it often involves physical therapy and sometimes also steroids to control inflammation. In some patients, over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are sufficient for pain management, but some patients require prescription pain medications.

Contact West Law Office About Car Accident Cases

A personal injury lawyer can help you if you are suffering from a painful condition such as complex regional pain syndrome as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident. Contact West Law Office in Spokane, Washington, to find out more about your legal options.