After experiencing persistent physical pain and undergoing countless medical examinations, your doctor may officially inform you that you have complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). This is a chronic neurological disorder that typically affects a limb following an injury. After receiving this news, you may be unable to help but wonder whether it specifically derived from a workplace injury. So not only may you struggle with its discomfort, but also with proving it is a work-related injury for the sake of financial compensation. Well, please read on to discover whether your complex regional pain syndrome is connected to your past railroad work and how one of the seasoned railroad crush injury lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you draw this tie in your upcoming Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) claim.
Is my complex regional pain syndrome diagnosis correlated to my railroad work?
First of all, you may conclude that you have CRPS if your current pain at the original injury site is disproportionately more severe than it was at first. Namely, your symptoms may be swelling, temperature changes, skin discoloration, muscle stiffness, sensitivity to the touch, and loss of function at the original injury site. Now, it has been medically proven that CRPS may develop after injuries such as bone fractures, crush injuries, joint sprains, and repetitive stress injuries. Of course, all of these injury types are relevant to railroad-related work tasks.
For example, if you ever happen to have entered a slip and fall accident while working on the railroad tracks, you may have broken your leg, severely sprained your ankle, or dislocated your shoulder. Any of these bone or joint injuries may precede CRPS. Or, you may have repetitively handled vibrational tools or done the same heavy lifting motions over and over again. These stresses or strains may inevitably irritate your nerves and manifest into CRPS.
How do I prove my CRPS is work-related for my upcoming FELA claim?
In your head, it may be quite clear how your long-term railroad work or a specific railroad site accident eventually triggered your CRPS. However, you must prove this on paper, with tangible evidence, if you want a chance at a successful FELA claim. This means proof that you have gotten treatment from neurologists, pain specialists, and orthopedists, including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, sympathetic nerve blocks, spinal cord stimulations, etc. Then, testimony from medical experts who can attest to the connection to your past railroad career.
If this is what you are currently up against, do not try to put up a fight without the legal assistance of one of the competent FELA lawyers from Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP. We urge you to retain our services as soon as possible.
