Complex Regional Pain Syndrome – an update
with Michelle Otero Valdés, BCS, Chalos & Co P.C.

This International Underwriting Association (IUA) market briefing will discuss the symptoms, diagnosis and challenges of addressing CRPS claims.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), formerly known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), is a chronic pain condition that may result in extreme sensitivity and pain to the hands and elbows or knees and legs, in particular, without an obvious cause that would explain the degree of pain complaints.

Usually diagnosed through a process of elimination, CRPS is know to occur only rarely and has historically been challenging to treat. However, because CRPS’ scientifically validated diagnostic criteria are designed to be inclusive, sensitive and broad, some commentators and litigation experience strongly suggests that it leads to over diagnosis. This reportedly leads to a large number of false positives, which leads to increased costs.

The incidence of CRPS is unclear. CRPS usually follows some form of trauma to the affected body part, usually an extremity. Increased attention by plaintiff’s lawyers to this condition has been raised since objectivity, normally seen in most bodily injury claims, is often replaced with subjective complaints that cannot be clinically correlated made by anyone with a computer and the internet can claim.

This market briefing will explore a recent case study and discuss the keys to success in the early stages of claims management.