Arkansas CRPS Lawyer

Long after suffering an injury, it is possible that you are still experiencing pain from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). This is a chronic pain condition that typically results from another underlying injury.

However, treating CRPS can result in significant medical costs and emotional burdens. If another party was responsible for your original injury, they should also be liable for the costs associated with treating your ongoing condition. Just because time has passed does not mean you are less deserving of justice. While proving CRPS in a lawsuit can be challenging, it is often worth it since it can help you cover unexpected expenses in the future.

For a free case analysis with our CRPS lawyers, contact us by calling (479) 316-0438.

What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in Arkansas?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic condition that is characterized by prolonged and often severe pain that can be disproportionate to the initial injury or trauma. The affected area might also exhibit changes in skin color, temperature, and swelling. The condition is believed to be caused by damage or malfunction in the peripheral and central nervous systems.

CRPS is classified into two types: CRPS-I and CRPS-II. While CRPS-I is associated with soft tissue injuries or fractures, CRPS-II is generally linked to a confirmed nerve injury. The symptoms experienced by patients with CRPS are diverse and can include throbbing pain, sensitivity, and even changes in hair and nail growth.

Treatment for CRPS usually involves a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Many clinics in Arkansas offer a wide range of treatment options, such as medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulation, and more. At the Spero Clinic, Pain Treatment Centers of America, and Arkansas Pain Care Clinics, patients can receive comprehensive care from a team of experienced professionals, typically the first step in proving their condition.

You will need medical records detailing your condition to prove you are suffering from CRPS. Our CRPS attorneys can arrange for a medical expert to review your records so we can build a strong case for your right to compensation. Because CRPS is usually diagnosed by investigating the patient’s work and medical history, getting medical treatment is critical.

How to Prove You Have CRPS in an Arkansas Lawsuit

Proving the existence and severity of CRPS in a lawsuit requires a combination of many different forms of evidence. Each piece of evidence serves to paint a comprehensive picture of your condition and its impact on your life. While gathering and presenting the following evidence can be challenging, it is necessary to secure a favorable outcome in a CRPS lawsuit:

Medical Records

To prove CRPS in a lawsuit, medical records play a pivotal role in establishing the extent of the injury sustained. Medical records include a wide range of documents such as doctor’s notes, diagnostic test results, imaging studies, and treatment records that provide a comprehensive overview of the patient’s medical history.

These documents are essential in establishing the initial injury, diagnosis of CRPS, treatments undertaken, and the impact of the condition on your life. For instance, medical records can provide information on the type of initial injury sustained, the severity of the injury, and the symptoms experienced by the patient. Additionally, medical records can show how the patient has responded to various treatments, including medications, physical therapy, and other interventions.

Moreover, medical records can also provide a timeline of the progression of the condition, which can be valuable in establishing the chronic nature of CRPS. They can show the duration and frequency of symptoms, the impact of these symptoms, and the effectiveness of various treatments. Medical records can also provide insights into the patient’s overall health, including any pre-existing conditions that might have contributed to the development of CRPS.

Expert Testimony

In these types of cases, expert witnesses are often necessary to provide insight and analysis of the condition to the court. These experts can provide valuable information and testimony to help the court understand the nature of the condition, its likely causes, and its long-term effects on a patient’s quality of life.

Medical experts, for example, can explain the underlying physiological mechanisms that give rise to CRPS, as well as the various treatment options available. They can also help the court understand common symptoms associated with the condition, such as chronic pain, swelling, and hypersensitivity to touch, and how these symptoms might impact the patient’s daily life.

In addition to medical experts, vocational experts can also play a critical role in cases involving CRPS. These experts can assess the impact of the condition on the patient’s ability to work and earn a living, taking into account the patient’s education, training, work history, and other factors. By providing detailed analysis and testimony, expert witnesses can help ensure that the court has a full and accurate understanding of the impact that CRPS has had on you and your family.

Witness Statements

Another way to build a strong case for compensation is to have personal statements from family members, friends, and coworkers testifying to their experience with you and your condition. Personal statements can be particularly useful in establishing the plaintiff’s condition before the injury and how CRPS has changed their lives. By sharing their personal experiences, witnesses can provide a more detailed and intimate perspective on the daily struggles and challenges faced by individuals living with CRPS.

Whether it is describing the physical pain and limitations, the emotional toll, or the financial burden of CRPS, witness statements can help paint a more complete picture of your situation. They can also help demonstrate the impact of CRPS on your relationships, work, and overall quality of life.

Pain Journal

A pain journal is a powerful tool that can help you document and track your daily pain levels, symptoms, and how the condition impacts your daily activities. Pain journals provide a detailed and personal account of the patient’s experience, which can add a level of depth to the case that medical records and other forms of evidence might not capture.

By recording pain levels, the time of day, location, and type of pain, individuals with CRPS can gain insight into the patterns and triggers of their pain, which can be helpful for their healthcare providers when developing a treatment plan.

A pain journal can be useful evidence, especially if you started keeping it before initiating a lawsuit. By keeping a detailed pain journal over time, you will show that your condition is serious and give credibility to the statements you are making in court.

Our Arkansas CRPS Lawyers Can Help

Reach out to our CRPS attorneys at (479) 316-0438 to receive your free case review today.