HCRPS, also known as it’s alternative name, RSD, is a chronic nervous system disorder that inflicts victims with painful symptoms that are both incurable, and challenging to treat. While victims of CRPS can seek medical treatment from their primary care physician or a general practitioner, there is no guarantee that these medical experts will be able to treat your condition effectively. This is because there is still little known about CRPS or RSD, and often general practitioners will misdiagnose the condition, resulting in a worsening condition. If you live in the San Francisco Area and have been diagnosed with CRPS, it may be in your best interest to seek medical treatment from a medical facility in your area specialized in treating disorders that affect the nervous system. In this article, we will cover the specific nature of CRPS and RSD, the damages the condition causes, what causes the condition, and medical facilities in San Francisco that are staffed and trained at treating CRPS.
CRPS and RSD: The Condition
CRPS stands for complex regional pain syndrome, and is known by its alternative name, reflex sympathetic dystrophy or RSD. This condition afflicts the nervous system of an individual, damaging the immune response of the afflicted area. Unfortunately, there is still very little known about CRPS, and while medical professionals have extensively studied the condition, there is still no cure for the condition, and treatment can only mitigate the pain this condition can cause. To give you an idea of what CRPS looks like, we’ve included some of the common symptoms that CRPS and RSD can cause:
- Chronic pain which has a burning sensation: This symptom is characterized as being far greater than the original injury that caused the condition to begin with. It is often excruciatingly painful, and victims note that the afflicted area is sensitive to touch sound and temperature.
- Inflammation of the afflicted area: The area that is afflicted with CRPS often swells as a result. This inflammation is often characterized as a bruising, mottling, or reddening of the skin.
- Spasms: The damage to the nervous system results in muscle spasms, which can affect everyday mobility.
- Insomnia and other mood disorders: CRPS has also been shown to cause significant changes to the limbic system causing things like short-term memory loss, disruptions in sleep patterns, and mental confusion.
- Decreased mobility of affected area: Some patients have complained of being unable to effectively move the part of the body affected by this condition. This includes joint stiffness as well and can require extensive physical therapy to reach some form of recovery.
- Spreading: Sometimes, when left untreated, CRPS can spread from the originally affected area to other parts of the body, making the condition far more difficult to treat.
While there is still little known about the condition, medical professionals are aware that the condition is caused by a form of trauma which triggers the immune response system of the afflicted area. Originally, it was thought that only physical trauma could cause CRPS, however, recent studies have shown that CRPS can arise after a heart attack or stroke. Studies have also shown that this condition typically afflicts those aged between 40 and 60; however it is important to note that this nervous system disorder can occur to anyone at any age. Two forms of CRPS have been identified, and the characteristics of these forms are bulleted below for your reference:
- CRPS Form I: CRPS I is identified as a nerve disorder that occurs after a minor injury. This form of CRPS usually afflicts the arms or the legs, and are caused by injuries like a break or fracture, a puncture injury, infections, or a spinal cord injury. It is important to note that 90% of all CRPS cases are diagnosed as form I
- CRPS Form II: Injury often causes CRPS II to a specific nerve. This is the least common form of CRPS, taking up as little as 10% of all diagnosed CRPS cases.
Study of the condition has shown that the sooner CRPS is diagnosed and treated, the more likely the CRPS patient will respond to the treatment. However, CRPS is often misdiagnosed, as general physicians often aren’t trained at identifying the signs of this condition. CRPS is also difficult to diagnose as no one case is the same. Symptoms of CRPS arise differently in victims and not all victims experience the same symptoms. Unfortunately, sufficient and expedient treatment is often the only way in which CRPS victims can return to a state of normalcy, since there is no cure for the condition. For this reason, it is highly recommended that those who believe they are suffering from CRPS should seek medical assistance from a facility that is trained and specialized at treating nervous systems disorders.
Medical Facilities that can take care of Complex Regional Syndrome and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in San Francisco
As mentioned prior, having the right medical treatment center administering care to your CRPS condition can make the difference between living a life relatively pain free, and experiencing excruciating pains on the daily basis. While you may be able to receive some form of pain treatment from your primary care physician, it is unlikely this treatment will in the end alleviate your pains effectively. For this reason, if you live in the San Francisco area, and suffer from CRPS, you should seek medical treatment from one of the following medical centers or specialized doctors:
- Dr. Joy S. Meng, MD
- Gary A. Belaga, MD
- David King-Stephens, M.D.
- Marina Kasavin, M.D., PhD
- Mc Cormack Bruce M MD
- Nobl Barazangi, M.D., PhD
- San Francisco Clinical Research: Goldstein Jerome MD
- Charlene Chen, MD
- Jonathan S. Katz, M.D.
- Alireza Atri, M.D.
- Richard Cueno, M.D.
- Rachman Chung, DC, DACNB
- Carlos Quintana, MD
- Jonathan Strober, M.D.
- Dr. Joey English
- Peter Goadsby, M.B.B.S.
- Dr. Richard W. Price, MD
- UCSF Neurology Clinic
- Anderson Wayne E DO
- Estrin William J MD
- UCSF Memory and Aging Center
- Ari Green, M.D.
- Dr.Rima Ash
- Jessica Litwin, M.D.
- Morris Levin, M.D.
- Bright Minds Institute
- Miranda Fernando G MD
- Marta San Luciano, M.D.
- Donna Ferriero, M.D.
- Dr. Melanie A. Lising
- Dr. Chi-Chen Mao, MD
- Tran Thanh K MD
- UCSF Pediatric Neurology
- Dr. Marilyn M. Robertson
- Cynthia Campen, MD
- Dr. Dena B. Dubai, MD
- UCSF Brain and Spinal Injury
- Fox Kenneth MD
- Chein Chau-Chun MD
- Strassberg Mark H MD
- Marcus Jacqueline MD
- VA Medical Center-San Francisco
- Dr. Lennart Mucke
- Dr. Howard Belfer, MD
- Neurology Department: Longo Frank MD
- Dr. Kenneth A. Fox, MD
- Diagnostic Neurology Associates
- Hemphill J Claude, MD
- Center for Pain Management: Robertson Marilyn, MD
- Cokgor Ilkcan MD
- UCSF Headache Center
- Dr. William A. Weiss, MD
- Dr. Thomas Browne-Neurenics
- Dukhovny Irina, MD
- Dr. Dawn Mcguire, MD
This is just a handful of some of the medical facilities and neurology specialist that operate in San Francisco, as well as some of the surrounding area. A medical professional that specializes in neurology may be able to better assist you in treating the day-to-day pain that CRPS can cause. If you are not living in the San Francisco area, it is highly recommended that you seek medical assistance from a neurologist, muscle pain, or CRPS specialist practicing in your area. If your CRPS was caused by a physical injury inflicted by the negligent actions of another, you might want to seek legal consultation from a lawyer with experience in dealing with personal injury CRPS cases.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with CRPS, as a result of an injury or physical trauma caused by the negligence or misconduct of another you may be eligible to file a claim for monetary compensation for the damages that you have suffered. However, when moving forward with legal action, it is highly recommended that you see representation from a skilled attorney. At Normandie Law Firm, our injury attorneys experienced in cases regarding CRPS can guide you through the process of building your case, filing your claim, and reaching a satisfactory settlement for your case. While our law offices are based in Los Angeles, our attorneys can help those diagnosed with CRPS in cities like Fresno, Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, and throughout the state of California.
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