The moment you are hurt at work, you expect to heal. But for some workers in Dallas-Fort Worth, the pain doesn't fade—it intensifies. If a simple touch feels like a burn, or if your limb swells and changes color long after the initial accident, you might be dealing with a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is a misunderstood and often misdiagnosed condition that typically affects an arm or leg after an injury. It is not "just pain." It is a dysfunction of the nervous system that causes prolonged, disproportionate pain that is far more severe than the original injury should have caused. Because Texas law allows many employers to opt out of workers' compensation (known as non-subscribers), injured workers suffering from CRPS have the right to sue their employer for negligence. Non-subscriber work injury attorney Warren Armstrong is here to help you navigate that fight.
How Workplace Accidents Trigger CRPS
CRPS usually develops after a specific traumatic event. In the workplace, this often stems from accidents that involve direct trauma to a limb. Because the syndrome is linked to nerve damage and the body’s inflammatory response, it doesn't matter if you work in construction, a warehouse, or an office—any job that puts you at risk for physical injury carries the potential for a CRPS diagnosis. Common work-related causes include:
- Crush injuries. Having a hand, foot, or limb caught between heavy objects, machinery, or materials is a primary trigger for CRPS.
- Fractures and breaks. A broken bone sustained in a slip, trip, or fall can sometimes heal improperly or trigger the nervous system dysfunction that leads to CRPS.
- High-velocity impacts. Being struck by a moving vehicle, falling object, or piece of machinery can cause the deep tissue and nerve damage associated with the syndrome.
- Lacerations and penetrating wounds. Severe cuts that damage major nerves can lead to a subtype of the condition known as CRPS-II.
- Repetitive stress. While less common, repetitive motion injuries that cause ongoing inflammation can sometimes evolve into a chronic pain condition.
Recognizing the Signs of CRPS
One of the most difficult aspects of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is that the pain often feels "invisible" to others. There is frequently no open wound to see, making it hard for employers or insurance adjusters to grasp the severity of the condition. However, the symptoms are very real and debilitating. Workers suffering from CRPS may experience:
- Burning pain. A constant or intermittent burning sensation deep in the affected limb.
- Allodynia. This is a hallmark symptom where light touch, such as a bedsheet brushing against the skin or a slight breeze, causes excruciating pain.
- Swelling and color changes. The affected area may swell, feel warmer or cooler than the rest of the body, and change color (appearing blotchy, red, or purple).
- Stiffness and motor neglect. In some cases, the brain seems to "forget" how to move the limb, leading to significant disability and muscle wasting.
Because these symptoms can worsen over time without proper treatment, early diagnosis and aggressive legal action are essential.
The Legal Rights of Injured Workers in Texas
If you were hurt on the job in Dallas-Fort Worth, your ability to sue depends entirely on your employer's decision regarding workers' compensation insurance. Texas law is unique in that it does not require most private employers to carry workers' comp.
- Subscribers. If your employer has workers' comp, you generally cannot sue them. Your benefits are limited to medical care and a portion of your lost wages.
- Non-subscribers. If your employer opted out of workers' comp, they are considered a "non-subscriber." You have the right to sue them in civil court for negligence.
Warren Armstrong exclusively handles non-subscriber cases. Because CRPS often requires lifelong treatment—including pain management, physical therapy, psychological counseling, and even nerve blocks or spinal cord stimulation—the limited benefits of workers' comp are rarely enough. A personal injury lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for the full scope of your damages, including pain and suffering.
Compensation Available in a CRPS Claim
Living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome means living with uncertainty. A successful legal claim against a non-subscriber employer aims to provide financial security to cover that uncertainty. Compensation can address:
- Medical expenses. This includes not just current doctor visits, but future medical care, medications, nerve blocks, and assistive devices you may need for the rest of your life.
- Lost wages and earning capacity. If your CRPS prevents you from returning to your previous job—or any job at all—you can seek compensation for the income you have lost and the money you would have earned in the future.
- Pain and suffering. Unlike workers' comp, a civil lawsuit allows you to be compensated for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish caused by the condition.
- Physical impairment. When CRPS limits your ability to live your life, enjoy hobbies, or care for your family, the law recognizes this as a loss.
What to Do After a Work Injury Leading to CRPS
If your initial workplace injury is not healing and you are noticing signs of chronic, burning pain, you must act quickly to protect both your health and your legal rights.
- Report the injury immediately. Notify your employer in writing about the accident.
- Seek specialized medical help. Tell your doctor about all your symptoms, especially if you feel burning or sensitivity to touch. Ask to be evaluated for CRPS.
- Document everything. Keep a daily journal of your pain levels, what you cannot do because of the pain, and how it affects your mood and sleep.
- Verify your employer's status. Determine if your employer is a workers' comp subscriber or a non-subscriber. The Texas Department of Insurance provides resources for this.
- Contact an experienced work injury attorney. Before you speak to an insurance adjuster or sign anything, consider getting legal advice specific to non-subscriber law.
How Warren Armstrong Can Help
Proving Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in a court of law requires a specific kind of legal experience. Insurance companies often dispute CRPS claims because they cannot "see" the injury on an X-ray. They may argue the pain is exaggerated or unrelated to the accident.
Warren Armstrong understands the medical complexities of this condition. He works with medical experts who can explain to a jury why a crush injury or fracture led to a lifetime of burning pain. Because he focuses only on non-subscriber cases, he knows exactly how to navigate the rules that prevent employers from using common defenses against you.
Living with CRPS is a daily battle. You need a lawyer who is ready to fight just as hard for your future as you are fighting to get through each day. If your workplace injury has turned into this debilitating condition, reach out to Armstrong Personal Injury Law in Dallas-Fort Worth to discuss your options.