If you’ve been searching for information about CRPS and workers’ compensation, there’s a good chance you or someone you love is going through something really difficult right now.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is one of the most painful and misunderstood conditions out there, and trying to navigate a workers’ comp claim on top of it can feel like too much to handle.

We want to help. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is CRPS?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS, is a chronic pain condition that usually develops after an injury, surgery, or trauma to a limb. What makes it different from a typical injury is that the pain is way out of proportion to what caused it, and it doesn’t go away the way a normal injury would.

People with CRPS often describe a burning, stabbing, or electric-like pain that can be constant. Other symptoms include:

• Swelling and inflammation in the affected area
• Skin that changes color, temperature, or texture
• Extreme sensitivity to touch, even light contact can be unbearable
• Limited range of motion
• Muscle weakness or spasms

CRPS can affect your arm, leg, hand, or foot, and in some cases it can spread. There are two types: CRPS-I (formerly called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or RSD) and CRPS-II, but both involve severe, ongoing pain that can seriously disrupt your ability to work and live your normal life.

Can CRPS Be Caused by a Work Injury?

Yes, absolutely. CRPS can develop after many types of workplace injuries, including:

• Fractures or crush injuries
• Sprains and soft tissue injuries
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Post-surgical complications from a work-related procedure
• Nerve damage from an accident

Because CRPS can sometimes take weeks or even months to fully develop after the initial injury, workers and doctors don’t always connect the dots right away. That delay can actually cause problems when it comes time to file a workers’ comp claim, which is why it’s important to document everything and work with medical professionals who are familiar with the condition.

Does Workers’ Comp Cover CRPS?

In California, workers’ compensation is supposed to cover medical conditions that arise out of your job, and that includes CRPS when it can be linked to a workplace injury. In theory, that means your employer’s insurance carrier should cover your:

• Medical treatment, including doctor visits, medications, nerve blocks, and physical therapy
• Temporary disability payments while you’re unable to work
• Permanent disability benefits if your condition doesn’t fully resolve
• Vocational rehabilitation if you’re unable to return to your previous job

That said, CRPS claims are often some of the most heavily disputed in the workers’ comp system. Because the condition is complex and not always well understood, insurance companies frequently push back, sometimes questioning whether CRPS is real, whether it’s truly work-related, or whether the treatment being recommended is necessary.

It’s frustrating, and unfortunately, it’s very common.

Why Are CRPS Workers’ Comp Claims So Difficult?

There are a few reasons insurance carriers tend to fight CRPS claims harder than others:
The diagnosis can be hard to prove. There’s no single definitive test for CRPS. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, medical history, and clinical evaluation. That gives insurance companies room to argue.

Treatment is expensive. CRPS often requires long-term, ongoing care, and insurers don’t love paying for that. They may try to deny or delay treatment authorizations, which can cause your condition to get worse.

The condition is often misunderstood. Even some medical professionals aren’t fully up to speed on CRPS. Insurance companies sometimes use that to their advantage by hiring doctors who downplay the severity of your symptoms.

It may take time to develop. If there’s a gap between your workplace injury and your CRPS diagnosis, the insurance carrier may argue the condition isn’t related to your job.

What Should You Do If You Have CRPS and a Workers’ Comp Claim?

A few important steps:

• Get the right diagnosis. Make sure you’re working with a doctor who has experience treating CRPS. Proper documentation of your symptoms and diagnosis is critical.
• Report everything. Keep a record of your symptoms, how they affect your daily life, and any treatments you’ve received. The more thorough your documentation, the better.
• Don’t wait. If your claim is being delayed or denied, the sooner you get help, the better. Delays in treatment for CRPS can lead to the condition progressing and becoming even harder to treat.

Talk to a California workers’ compensation attorney. This one is big. CRPS cases are complicated, and going up against an insurance company alone is tough, especially when you’re already dealing with chronic pain.

We’re Here to Help

At LG Law Center, we work with attorney Luis E. Gonzalez to help injured workers in Ontario, Southern California, and beyond fight for the benefits they deserve, including those dealing with complex conditions like CRPS. We understand how much this condition can take from you, and we believe you shouldn’t have to fight an insurance company at the same time.

Contact LG Law Center today for a free consultation. Tell us what’s going on, and we’ll help you figure out your options. You don’t have to face this alone.

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