A seemingly minor workplace injury can turn into something far more serious. You twist your ankle stepping off a ladder, break your wrist in a fall, or suffer a crush injury while operating machinery. The initial injury heals, but the pain doesn’t go away. In fact, it gets worse. Your hand swells, your skin changes color, and even the lightest touch feels unbearable. You might be dealing with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS.
CRPS is one of the most debilitating conditions that can result from a workplace injury, and it’s often misunderstood by employers and insurance companies alike. If you’re living with this condition after getting hurt on the job, you deserve compensation that reflects the true impact on your life and livelihood.
What is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome?
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a chronic pain condition that typically affects an arm or leg after an injury, surgery, stroke, or heart attack. The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury. What might have started as a broken bone or sprained ankle can develop into a condition that makes it nearly impossible to work or perform daily activities.
The condition affects your nervous system, causing it to misfire and send constant pain signals to your brain. What makes CRPS particularly challenging is that it can spread beyond the initial injury site and affect other parts of your body. A hand injury can lead to pain in your entire arm, shoulder, or even the opposite limb.
Recognizing the Signs of CRPS
CRPS doesn’t always show up immediately after an injury. Symptoms can develop gradually, which is why many workers don’t connect their worsening condition to the original workplace accident. Common signs include:
- Severe, burning pain that feels disproportionate to the injury. Workers often describe it as a constant fire or electrical sensation in the affected area.
- Changes in skin temperature and color. Your skin might alternate between sweaty and cold, or change from white and mottled to red or blue.
- Swelling and stiffness in joints that make it hard to grip tools, type, or perform other job duties.
- Increased sensitivity. Even a light touch, clothing brushing against your skin, or changes in temperature can trigger intense pain.
- Motor symptoms like tremors, weakness, or difficulty coordinating movements.
These symptoms typically appear within weeks to months after the initial injury. If you’re experiencing any of these signs after a workplace accident, it’s crucial to see a doctor immediately and document the connection to your work injury.
How Workplace Injuries Lead to CRPS
While any injury can potentially trigger CRPS, certain types of workplace accidents are more commonly associated with the condition. Crush injuries are among the most common causes. Workers in construction, manufacturing, and warehousing face significant risk. When equipment malfunctions or heavy objects fall on a hand, foot, or limb, the resulting trauma can trigger CRPS even after the initial injury appears to heal.
Fractures from workplace falls frequently lead to CRPS. Slipping on wet floors, falling from heights, or tripping over equipment can result in broken bones that develop into chronic pain syndrome. The condition can emerge while the fracture is still healing or months after the cast comes off.
Repetitive strain injuries can also develop into CRPS. Workers who perform the same motions day after day, such as assembly line workers, meat processing employees, or those who operate vibrating machinery, may develop nerve damage that progresses to CRPS. The key factor in all these scenarios is that the injury happened on the job.
The Challenge of Getting CRPS Claims Approved
Here’s the harsh reality: insurance companies often fight CRPS claims aggressively. They question whether the condition is real, whether it’s actually related to the workplace injury, or whether it’s as severe as you claim. This skepticism leaves injured workers struggling to get the medical care and compensation they desperately need.
Insurance adjusters may point to the fact that CRPS symptoms seem disproportionate to the original injury, using this against you. They might suggest you’re exaggerating pain or that the condition was pre-existing. Some insurance companies will approve initial treatment for your workplace injury but balk when CRPS develops later. They might argue that the time gap between the injury and the CRPS diagnosis means the two aren’t connected.
Getting proper medical documentation is critical. You need doctors who understand CRPS and can clearly explain how your workplace injury caused or contributed to the condition. You need records that document every symptom, every treatment, and every way the condition affects your ability to work and live your life.
What Workers’ Compensation Should Cover for CRPS
If you develop CRPS from a workplace injury, Missouri workers’ compensation should cover all necessary medical treatment. This includes:
- Diagnostic testing such as bone scans, MRIs, and nerve conduction studies to confirm the diagnosis.
- Pain management treatment including medications, nerve blocks, and spinal cord stimulation. CRPS treatment often requires specialized care from pain management specialists.
- Physical and occupational therapy to help maintain function and prevent the condition from worsening.
- Psychological counseling. Living with chronic pain takes a serious toll on mental health, and many CRPS patients develop depression or anxiety.
- Lost wages for time you cannot work. CRPS can make it impossible to perform your job duties, especially if your work involves physical labor.
- Permanent partial disability benefits if CRPS leaves you with lasting impairment. Many workers with CRPS cannot return to their previous jobs and may be unable to work at all.
The problem is that getting insurance companies to pay for all of this can be an uphill battle. They may approve some treatment while denying others. They might pressure you to return to work before you’re ready. They could offer a settlement that doesn’t begin to cover your long-term needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get workers’ comp for CRPS if it developed months after my injury?
Yes. CRPS often takes time to develop after the initial injury. As long as you can establish that your workplace injury triggered the condition, you should be eligible for benefits. Keep records of all your symptoms, medical visits, and treatments from the time of your injury forward. Understanding Missouri’s statute of limitations is important for protecting your rights.
What if my employer says CRPS isn’t real?
CRPS is a recognized medical condition with specific diagnostic criteria. While some skepticism exists in the insurance world, medical science confirms that CRPS is real and can be severely disabling. An experienced attorney can work with qualified medical experts to prove your diagnosis and its connection to your workplace injury.
How long do I have to file a claim after developing CRPS?
In Missouri, you generally need to report a workplace injury to your employer within 30 days and file a claim within two years. However, CRPS cases can be tricky because the condition develops after the initial injury. Consult with a workers’ compensation attorney as soon as you’re diagnosed to ensure you meet all deadlines.
What if I can’t return to my old job because of CRPS?
If CRPS prevents you from performing your previous job duties, you may be entitled to permanent partial disability benefits or vocational rehabilitation. The amount of compensation depends on the extent of your impairment and how it affects your earning capacity.
Will I have to see the insurance company’s doctor?
The insurance company may request that you undergo an independent medical examination. While these are called “independent,” insurance companies often use doctors who tend to minimize injuries. Having your own attorney helps level the playing field and ensures that any examination is fair.
What if my claim gets denied?
If your workers’ compensation claim is denied, you have the right to appeal the decision. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand why your claim was denied and what steps to take next. The appeals process can be complex, and having legal representation significantly improves your chances of success.
Don’t Fight This Battle Alone
Living with CRPS after a workplace injury is challenging enough without having to fight insurance companies for the benefits you deserve. The pain, the limitations, the uncertainty about your future: it’s overwhelming. You need someone in your corner who understands both the medical complexities of CRPS and the legal strategies necessary to win these cases.
At Tolbert Beadle, we’ve helped workers across Missouri get fair compensation for complex medical conditions resulting from workplace injuries. We know how to build strong cases, counter insurance company tactics, and fight for the benefits our clients need. Terry Tolbert and William Beadle are personally involved in every case because they understand what’s at stake for you and your family.
Your CRPS developed because of an injury that happened while you were working. You deserve compensation that covers your medical treatment, makes up for your lost wages, and acknowledges the permanent impact this condition has on your life. Don’t let the insurance company minimize your suffering or pressure you into accepting less than you deserve.
Contact Tolbert Beadle today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you understand what benefits you’re entitled to under Missouri law. Let us handle the legal battle so you can focus on managing your condition and finding the best possible treatment.