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What Iowa Workers Need to Know About Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (Part B)

Causes of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after an Iowa Work Injury

There are 2 types of complex regional pain syndrome, and although the symptoms are similar for each, the causes are different:

• Type 1 - this type, which is the most prevalent form of CRPS, has also been called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. It occurs after an injury in which the nerves in your affected arm or leg were not directly damaged.
• Type 2 - known in the past as causalgia, Type 2 CRPS involves a distinct nerve injury.

Complex regional pain syndrome usually occurs after forceful trauma such as that of a shrapnel blast. Other trauma such as a sprained ankle or a broken bone can also lead to complex regional pain syndrome. Since CRPS is often associated with previous injuries, you'll want to discuss the circumstances surrounding your initial work injury with a Des Moines Workers' Compensation lawyer.

Treatment for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after an Iowa Work Injury

Treatment for CRPS includes medication and the following therapies:

• Heat and cold - cold therapy could relieve sweating and swelling while heat therapy could provide relief if your skin is cold;
• Physical therapy - gentle exercises can improve your strength and range of motion in the affected limb; and
• Spinal cord stimulation - electrical currents sent to your spinal cord may alleviate pain.

When CRPS is not treated, complications that could arise include muscle loss and contractures in which your hand or foot will contract into a fixed position.

After you have suffered a work injury leading to CRPS, it would be beneficial to have a Des Moines Workers' Compensation lawyer go over your Iowa Workers' Compensation claim. A Des Moines Workers' Compensation lawyer understands the how the severe pain and discomfort of complex regional pain syndrome will affect you in the long term and will help you fight for the compensation that you deserve.

Contacting a Des Moines Workers' Compensation Lawyer

The Des Moines Workers' Compensation lawyer team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair work hard to level the field between injured Iowans and insurance companies. That's why we provide this FREE book, Iowa Workers' Compensation - An Insider's Guide to Work Injuries: 7 Deadly Mistakes To Avoid If You Are Hurt At Work. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa work injury claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation - 1-888-792-3595.