Nerve damage is one of the most devastating injuries you can sustain, though its impact isn’t always apparent right away. People often suffer minor nerve injuries that cause them pain but seem mostly bearable.
Unfortunately, they later discover that the injury is far more severe than they thought, and the increased pain combined with decreased mobility changes their lives drastically.
CRPS Type 2 Is Nerve Pain Amplified
Nerve damage occurs under a variety of circumstances. Sometimes it’s a minor accident at work, while other cases happen during surgery.
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, PLLC,, we specialize in representing clients who suffer from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type 2, formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. People who suffer from CRPS Type 2 often sustain a primary injury that triggers the more painful condition. The initial injuries might include severe trauma, amputation, or a minor incident that leads to a CRPS Type 2 flare-up.
We once worked with a young woman who suffered a minor on-the-job accident. She was in a dunk tank and got caught on a railing, which caused nerve damage in her hand. The woman underwent several surgeries to correct the problem, but she developed CRPS Type 2 as a result of the workplace accident. What began as an easily correctable problem spiraled into a complex, painful and life-altering condition.
CRPS Type 2 causes horrific pain because all the nerves in a particular part of the body misfire and become incredibly sensitive to touch. One client told us, “I feel like the outside of my hand is in an ice bucket and the inside is on fire.” The pain is so extreme that patients can’t bear to dry themselves with a towel or cover themselves with a sheet. Any touch provokes excruciating pain.
Doctors don’t fully understand what causes CRPS Type 2. But the Mayo Clinic suggests that the condition “may be due to a dysfunctional interaction between your central and peripheral nervous systems and inappropriate inflammatory responses.” Unfortunately, the lack of clinical understanding can cause a lack of judicial understanding as well.
When a CPRS Type 2 patient sues an employer, business or doctor, the defense might argue that the person has the use of at least one hand or whatever other physical abilities remain. They’ll say the person still has a great deal of functionality. Surely they can work as a cashier or telemarketer, at minimum.
However, pain is the most debilitating aspect of CPRS Type 2. The extreme sensitivity to touch makes it all but impossible to get through the day without pain medications, and much of the victim’s life revolves around pain mitigation. Of all the injuries we’ve seen, CRPS Type 2 is one of the worst. It’s extremely difficult to take the edge off nerve pain because it doesn’t respond to every medication. Those who do find relief are often unfit to work due to the high doses of medication their pain management regimen requires.
Retaining Qualified Counsel
If you believe you have a nerve damage lawsuit, particularly one related to CRPS Type 2, it is imperative that you contact a lawyer who has strong experience in this area. Whether you suffered nerve damage after surgery and are wondering whether you have a malpractice case or you’ve discovered that a minor injury has turned into CRPS Type 2, you don’t want to pursue a nerve damage settlement without representation.
As noted above, the defense will argue that you’re capable of working and therefore deserve a lower settlement. But the nature of the pain will make employment very difficult, and with the right lawyer, you can secure the settlement you deserve.
People often want to know how much they can expect from a nerve damage case, and we can’t generalize because amounts vary case by case. However, Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, PLLC recognizes the traumatic, life-changing impact CRPS Type 2 and other nerve damage injuries have on clients. We examine the full impact of the condition and fight for fair compensation that accounts for all aspects of our clients’ pain.
Not every nerve damage injury, including those that occur during surgery, qualifies for legal action. Nerve damage is a known surgical risk, particularly in any procedure involving the spinal cord. But there are many cases in which the patient qualifies for compensation, and we encourage them to pursue it. We are committed to helping nerve damage victims fight for justice and reduce at least the financial aspect of their pain.
By: Kay Van Wey | December 19th, 2017
