There is no denying that being involved in an accident with a truck can be very serious. Trucks are bigger and heavier, which means that a car is simply no match for a truck’s larger mass. As a result, occupants in smaller passenger cars often suffer serious and painful injuries such as broken bones, herniated discs, spine injuries, and head trauma. However, there is another type of injury that victims of trucking accidents suffer from that is not only painful, but it is complicated and can arise even weeks or months following the accident. It is known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) syndrome.

What Is RSD?

RSD, also referred to as complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), is a very severe neurological injury that occurs in serious, high-impact motor vehicle accidents. Both RSD and CRPS are known as chronic pain syndromes that affect a person’s nerves. Typically, an accident victim who develops these conditions will experience pain, swelling, redness, sensitivity, stiffness, sweating, and an intense burning sensation in an injured body part.

RSD generally affects the limbs, and it usually develops in an injured arm or leg. Because trucking accidents are high-impact crashes, occupants in passenger vehicles have a higher chance of suffering nerve damage. If nerve dysfunction occurs, RSD is likely to be sustained in the wreck.

Pain Associated With RSD

Victims of trucking accidents will notice a dramatic color and temperature change of the skin in the affected limb when trophic and vasomotor changes occur. Not only are these changes noticeable, but the pain accompanying these changes can be extremely intense. RSD and CRPS are very painful conditions. In fact, sufferers with these conditions explain their pain as persistent limb pain. Unfortunately, most people with these conditions cannot cope with the pain and need some type of therapy, medication, or treatment to help them deal with the increasing pain levels.

Treatment for RSD

The sooner a victim gets treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy, the sooner he or she will get better. Unfortunately, many people with RSD cannot work due to their pain, which is why it is very important that injured victims seek the necessary treatment to improve their conditions. Some treatment options include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Hand therapy
  • Desensitization therapy
  • Spinal cord stimulators
  • Sympathectomy
  • Medical treatments
  • Oral medications
  • Psychological therapy

If you cannot work as a result of RSD following a trucking accident in the Sarasota area, you need a lawyer on your side who understands RSD injuries. Unfortunately, insurance companies rarely take victims seriously and don’t want to pay out what claims are worth. If you are going to pursue a claim for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages, you need to make sure you hire a lawyer who has previously represented people with RSD injuries. To learn about your rights, contact our office for a free consultation or order a free copy of our book, What You Need to Know After a Florida Auto, Truck, or Bike Accident.

Damian Mallard, Esq.
Connect with me
Board Certified Sarasota Personal Injury Attorney