A 22-year-old woman in the United Kingdom recently made the decision to have her leg amputated in hopes of finding relief from a rare chronic pain condition known as complex regional pain syndrome, or CRPS.
Helena Stone of London was injured in a kayaking accident when she was 16. Following the incident, she developed a rare chronic pain condition, CRPS.
According to the Mayo Clinic, CRPS is a “form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or leg.” The condition typically develops after a heart attack, stroke, surgery, or injury. The cause of CRPS is still not well understood by medical professionals, though it appears to result from dysfunction in the central or peripheral nervous systems.
CRPS is often referred to as the “suicide disease,” as people who suffer from the condition have taken their lives in an attempt to find relief. A 2014 study found that more than 70% of participants with CRPS were at a “high risk” of suicide.
In Stone’s case, her pain developed after her injury. She told SWNS that her foot was caught in the water and that her leg got pulled during the accident. She received medical treatment, but the pain never went away. Over the years, Stone tried a number of different treatments, including physiotherapy, spinal injections, and psychotherapy. She found no relief.
In January, Stone began considering surgery to amputate her leg. On September 3, she made the decision to have her leg removed. The surgery was a success, and Stone claims to be pain-free.
“It’s the dream scenario,” said Stone. “Any question they asked me, I kept saying the CRPS was gone. I was so overwhelmed. I couldn’t say anything else.” While Stone’s decision has brought her relief, she cautions other CRPS sufferers to think carefully before making the choice to amputate.
Amputation for CRPS is controversial and typically only used as a last resort. While there is no cure for the condition, patients do sometimes go into remission.
When CRPS Results From Medical Malpractice
While CRPS can develop after traumatic accidents like Helena’s kayaking incident, many cases actually result from medical procedures that were performed improperly or where appropriate care was not provided. Understanding the connection between medical malpractice and CRPS is crucial for patients who developed this devastating condition following medical treatment.
CRPS commonly develops after surgical procedures, injections like IVs, or other medical interventions when healthcare providers fail to meet the accepted standard of care. Common scenarios that can lead to malpractice-related CRPS include improperly performed surgeries, nerve damage during procedures, infections that were not properly prevented or treated, complications from anesthesia or nerve blocks, and delayed or misdiagnosed treatment of initial injuries.
Many CRPS patients are unaware that their condition may have been preventable and could be the result of medical negligence. Healthcare providers have a duty to perform procedures with appropriate skill and care, obtain proper informed consent, monitor patients adequately during and after procedures, recognize and respond to complications promptly, and follow established protocols for infection prevention and pain management.
If you developed CRPS following a medical procedure, surgery, injection, or treatment, it may be worth consulting with a medical malpractice attorney who has experience with CRPS cases. An experienced attorney can review your medical records, consult with medical experts, and determine whether the healthcare provider’s actions fell below the acceptable standard of care. For California residents dealing with CRPS that may have resulted from medical malpractice, specialized legal help and resources are available at https://www.doyleapc.com/personal-injury/crps-rsd-lawsuits/.
Pursuing a medical malpractice claim cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by CRPS, but it can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and ongoing care needs. More importantly, holding healthcare providers accountable can help prevent similar cases from happening to other patients in the future.
