Chronic Pain Caused by CRPS after Foot and Ankle Surgeries
Were you left dealing with chronic pain after foot surgery or after ankle surgery? If you experienced chronic pain after foot fusion surgery or after ankle fusion surgery, it is possible that something went wrong during your procedure – leading to your chronic pain. If your surgeon made a mistake during your surgery and caused a nerve injury, for example, your CRPS might be a direct result of medical malpractice.
If you would like to explore the possibility of pursuing a medical malpractice CRPS claim against your doctor, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our law firm as soon as possible. The lawyers at Downtown L.A. Law Group are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with the guidance that you need to sue and recover the compensation that you deserve. If you would like to explore the possibility of pursuing a claim against your surgeon, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.
What is CRPS?Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that results in chronic pain that can be disabling and debilitating. There are two types of CRPS – Type I and Type II. CRPS Type I occurs after soft tissue injuries, such as fractures, burns, stains, and sprains, as well as after minor nerve injuries. On the contrary, CRPS Type II occurs after major nerve injuries. CRPS Type II is often referred to as Causalgia, although it was formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD).
CRPS causes chronic pain affecting the skin, the muscles, the joints, and the bones; it can be constant or intermittent, at it is often described as a burning pain. It is usually associated with the limbs, although it can spread to other parts of the body. As the condition worsens, the pain increases and simply becomes more unbearable.
Foot Fusion SurgeryFoot fusion is a procedure performed primarily to treat severe cases of arthritis in the foot. The purpose of the procedure is to permanently join or stiffen the joint between the bones with arthritis. The procedure could also be used to treat flat feet, rheumatoid arthritis, and injuries. During the procedure, the medical professional makes one or two incisions in the foot, removes the damaged joint, and positions the bones to be held together by plates and screws. Over time, the bone heals and fuses over the joint. Typically, only a one-night hospital stay is required after the surgery. The patient will need to keep his or her weight off the foot for many weeks to ensure the fusion is successful. It can be up to six months until recovery is complete.
Ankle Fusion SurgeryAnkle fusion is a procedure performed to treat severe cases of ankle arthritis. The goal of ankle fusion surgery is to permanently fuse the ankle joint so that it cannot bend. Medical professionals remove cartilage and create level bone surfaces both at the top and bottom of the ankle joint. Then, the bones are aligned in the position for fusion. Metal implants, which are normally large screws are drilled into the bones to keep it in the fusion position.
After a procedure, patients are typically required to stay one night in the hospital. They are put in a cast and must use crutches or a walker to remain off the affected ankle. This is necessary to allow the “new bone” to heal across the fused joint. Complete healing can take up to six months.
$200,000
$170,000
$300,000
$420,000
$460,000
$125,000
$600,000
$250,000
A study conducted by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons in 2014 determined that CRPS, although uncommon in orthopedic surgery, is a possible complication. The study consisted of 390 patients who underwent foot and/or ankle surgery in 2009. Of the 390 patients, only 17 (roughly 4%) met the criteria for a diagnosis of CRPS. Approximately 12 of the patients developed CRPS after just one procedure, while 5 developed CRPS after multiple procedures. At least 3 patients suffered nerve damage during the procedure and suffered CRPS Type II.
Although the development of CRPS is unlikely, it remains a possibility. In some cases, the development of CRPS is unclear. However, when the CRPS develops as a result of a nerve injury that occurred during the surgical procedure (i.e. a surgical error), the cause is clear and liable parties should be held accountable. If you would like to learn more about the likelihood of suffering CRPS after ankle and foot fusion surgeries, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm today.
Understanding Medical Malpractice and Liability for CRPSAs mentioned above, CRPS can be a direct result of a surgical error. When that is the case, the development of CRPS can be attributed to medical malpractice. Medical malpractice occurs when a medical professional makes a mistake during a procedure that ultimately harms a patient. It is important to understand that all medical professionals owe their patients a specific duty of care; they must exercise care, skill, and diligence when treating their patients. When medical professionals act without carelessly, recklessly, and without regard for the safety of their patients, they could make errors that could harm their patients and contribute to avoidable complications.
When a medical professional, such as a surgeon, is negligent and contributes to a preventable injury during a procedure, the medical professional could be found guilty of medical malpractice. What does this mean? If the harm that you suffered occurred as a result of medical malpractice or medical negligence, the medical professional that caused your injury could be liable. This means that you and your family might have grounds to sue for the harm that you suffered. For more information about medical malpractice and liability, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm immediately.
Could You Sue?Do you have the right to sue if medical negligence directly contributed to your CRPS diagnosis? If the harm that you suffered was a direct result of medical malpractice, you might have grounds to sue. Your right to sue is based on a simple fact – your surgeon owed you a duty of care that was ultimately breached. You have the right to sue because you were harmed as a direct result of a breached duty of care. If you would like to learn more about your right to sue for the CRPS that you suffered after a foot or ankle fusion surgery, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience.
If you can sue, could you also be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you suffered? How much compensation could you be eligible to receive? What type of compensation could you be awarded? Depending on the details surrounding your claim, you might be eligible to recover monetary compensation for harm that you suffered.
Some of the types of compensation that are often available for recovery could include the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
For more information regarding the type and amount of compensation that you might be eligible to receive for the harm that you suffered – and will likely continue to suffer – do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm immediately. Our lawyers are ready to aggressively fight for your right to recover the compensation that you deserve. If you would like to learn more about the type and amount of compensation that you could be eligible to receive if your claim reaches a successful outcome, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our firm at your earliest convenience.
What Should You Do?Is there anything that you could do to prepare to take legal action against the medical professional who botched your surgery and contributed to your CRPS? Because CRPS claims are amongst the most difficult, it is essential that affected parties do everything in their power to prepare for their claims.
First and foremost, you should seek medical attention. Although pain is expected after a surgery, the pain should only be temporary. It is likely that you see a doctor to follow-up your procedure. If your doctor cannot explain your pain, he or she might attempt to disregard it. However, you must press the matter until you have an answer. It might require many months as well as many professional opinions. Did your surgeon directly inform you of any nerve damage that occurred during the procedure? If so, you should explore the possibility that the nerve damage is causing your pain. It is important that you are not afraid off speaking to multiple doctors until someone takes you and your pain seriously.
Secondly, you must gather all medical records associated with your condition. This includes medical records prior to your ankle or foot surgery as well as records from after the procedure (imaging records are of utmost importance). You should also gather all records associated with your diagnosis of CRPS, including the treatments that you have attempted and their outcomes. You should include all medical expenses as well.
If your CRPS has affected your ability to work, you should gather all records of the income that you have lost and might continue to lose. This is important as lost earnings typically represent a significant portion of what claimants are compensated.
Finally, it is essential that you seek the appropriate legal assistance. As mentioned above, CRPS claims are among the most complex; therefore, only an experienced attorney can effectively handle your claim. It is important that you are certain that the attorney that you choose can successfully represent you and help you recover the compensation that you deserve.
If you are unsure of the things that you should do to prepare to take action for the CRPS that you suffered due to a surgical error during an ankle or foot fusion surgery, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience. Our experts are ready to guide you every step of the way.
Contact Downtown L.A. Law Group TodayDid you develop CRPS after you had a foot fusion or ankle fusion surgery? Depending on the details surrounding your current situation, you might have grounds to pursue a CRPS claim against your surgeon; if an error on your surgeon’s part contributed to the development of CRPS, you might have grounds to sue. If you would explore the possibility of pursuing a CRPS claim, do not hesitate to contact the experts at our law firm at your earliest convenience. The experts at Downtown L.A. Law Group are ready to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you might need to pursue your claim. If you would like to discuss your claim with our medical malpractice and CRPS experts, do not hesitate to contact our firm today.
At Downtown L.A. Law Group, our CRPS and medical malpractice lawyers are ready to provide you all the information that you need to pursue your claim. At our firm, we are aware that many people simply avoid taking legal action because of the fees that are typically associated with pursuing a claim. Because of that, we proud ourselves in remaining accessible to all via our free legal services. The free legal services that we offer specifically include free consultations and free consultations. During these free legal services, our lawyers will be available to answer all your questions and address all your concerns. Our lawyers will provide you with all the information and all the guidance that you will need to start or continue your claim. If you are ready to benefit from our free legal services, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
As explained above, we are dedicated to remaining accessible to all. Our firm offers a Zero-Fee guarantee that ensures that our clients will never be required to pay any upfront legal fees for any of our legal services. Our law firm is also strictly based on contingency. Because of our contingency structure, our clients will not be required to pay anything until their claims reach successful outcomes. If you do not win, you will not be responsible for any legal fees whatsoever.
Are you ready to discuss your claim with the experts at our firm? If so, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience. Our lawyers are ready to help you pursue your claim.
Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
CRPS Attorney
CRPS After Knee Replacement Surgery
CRPS and Electric Shock Attorney
Over $1 BILLION Recovered
for Our Clients
Learn More
Featured Lawyers
Steven Ross, Esq.
Edward Morgan, Esq.
Amy Gomez
Bonnie Madani, Esq.
Nina Sargsyan, Esq.
Jeffrey Bloeser, Esq.
