Does CRPS Affect Life Expectancy?
Complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS, does not directly affect life expectancy. But when CRPS treatment doesn’t work and symptoms continue, people can suffer a serious lifelong disability. This can lead to other health conditions, such as depression and severe weight gain, that may reduce life expectancy. Some studies have indicated that other symptoms may shorten life span up to 3 years. You do not have to manage your CRPS diagnosis alone. Pennsylvania CRPS Lawyers at Cordisco & Saile LLC in can help you pursue compensation to get the treatment you need and get your life back on track.
You do not have to manage your CRPS diagnosis alone. Personal injury lawyers at Cordisco & Saile in Pennsylvania can help you find the support you need to get the right treatment and a promising future.
CRPS Life Expectancy
CRPS can make mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress worse. It can also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
Studies have shown depression can shorten life expectancy in some people, in part because depression can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as poor eating habits, trouble sleeping, and self-isolation.
The pain and stiffness can also lead to periods of immobility, which in turn can lead to significant weight gain. Obesity has significant health effects like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and more, which can shorten life expectancy.
What Causes CRPS?
Injury or trauma to a limb causes CRPS. But researchers don’t know why some people develop CRPS while others don’t. CRPS can develop after the following:
- Injury to an arm or leg
- Infection
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Surgery
Although all of these may lead to CRPS, the most common inciting factors are injury to the arm or leg. A study of 1043 cases of CRPS found these top causes:
- Fractures – 42 percent
- Traumatic injuries other than fractures – 21 percent
- Surgery – 12 percent)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – 7 percent
Although these events are quite common, CRPS is a rare complication. One study found that of nearly 60,000 people treated for a wrist fracture between 2012 and 2014, only 0.19 percent developed CRPS.
If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, fall, or from repetitive stress, and have symptoms of CRPS, contact Cordisco & Saile today. We help people in Bensalem, Bucks County, Montgomery County, and the Lehigh Valley and will do all we can to get you the support you need.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of CRPS?
When treatment begins early, CRPS can go away and may not return. Anyone receiving a CRPS diagnosis hopes for such a prognosis. Unfortunately, some people suffer from the condition for months or years.
Your experience may be very different from another person with CRPS, but there are some common symptoms:
- Continuous throbbing pain or burning sensation
- Sensitivity to touch or cold in the affected limb
- Body temperature swings from sweaty to cold or vice versa
- Changes in skin color and texture
- Swelling of the limb or joints
- Joint stiffness and damage
- Inability to move the limb
- Muscle spasms, tremors, and weakness
Over time people with CRPS can experience tissue wasting and muscle tightening. The skin and muscles may deteriorate because it’s hard to move the limb. The hand or foot may end up locked in a fixed position. The pain may move to other body parts, such as the opposite limb.
Burning pain and increased sensitivity, followed by swelling and joint stiffness, are the common early signs of CRPS. The pain is worse than you might expect from an injury.
Treatment for CRPS is most successful when it starts early, but no matter how long you have lived with CRPS, you are entitled to the right support.
Can CRPS Lead to Other Diseases?
Some research suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder is more common among people with CRPS. The condition and living with chronic pain may also contribute to feelings of depression. Some people with CRPS may also experience negative feelings towards their body, specifically the part of the body most affected by the condition.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Treatment
CRPS is challenging to treat, but doctors have many interventions they can try. Early treatment is most effective in achieving remission or a reduction in symptoms.
Treatment options include the following:
- Physical therapy: This helps to improve blood flow to the limb. A therapist can also help you to improve flexibility and strength. Another intervention, occupational therapy, can help you regain the limb’s use to perform daily tasks.
- Lifestyle changes and home treatment: Your doctor may recommend tools you can use at home, such as compression stockings, to relieve symptoms. They may also recommend adopting healthy activities such as exercising daily, quitting tobacco, and managing other health conditions.
- Talk therapy: A psychologist or psychiatrist may help you manage mental health symptoms like depression or anxiety. You may also get help with pain management by learning specific techniques to manage or reduce your experience of pain.
- Medications: Although there are no drugs specifically for treating CRPS, there are many that can help reduce pain symptoms. Your doctor can advise you on the right medications, including over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and prescription drugs such as antidepressants.
Several alternative health treatments may also help manage CRPS. Among those are biofeedback, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapies.
Why Trust Experienced CRPS Injury Lawyers at Cordisco & Saile
If you are living with CRPS, medical treatment is necessary to reduce your symptoms and preserve your mobility. Fighting for the support you need is not something you have to do on your own.
If you have suffered an injury because of an accident caused by someone else, a lawyer may be able to help you get compensation. This can give you the necessary resources to regain your health and personal well-being.
You can trust the experienced lawyers at Cordisco & Saile because of our dedication to our clients’ welfare. Among the results we have obtained for injured people include:
- $1,377,000 for a Bucks County car accident victim
- $1,075,000 for a pedestrian injured by a van
- $865,000 for a Bucks County driver and passenger
- $750,000 for a woman in Bucks County knocked down by a dog
- $275,000 for a woman injured in a dog attack
Talk to Cordisco & Saile lawyers today to find out how we can help you get on track to a more positive future. Read testimonials from clients who also came to us for assistance after experiencing a life-changing injury.
CRPS is a serious and potentially debilitating condition. You can get the help you need with the right legal representation. If you have been hurt in an accident or have experienced medical trauma that’s led to CRPS, contact us today. We have decades of experience helping people like you. You won’t pay us any fees unless we win your case.
