RSD After a Motorcycle Accident

There are many different modes of transportation and one motor vehicle that receives a lot of attention is the motorcycle. With numerous differences from a car, people who are involved in a motorcycle accident are at a significant risk of sustaining a traumatic injury. This is because motorcycles do not provide any protection between the driver and the road. Furthermore, motorcycles are also much smaller than cars. Therefore, the motorcycle is more likely to fly a significant distance in a serious accident. This is one of the many reasons why motorcycle riders are encouraged to wear a helmet. According to statistics which have been published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA):

In the year 2013, close to 5,000 motorcycle riders were killed in accidents
During this same year, there were close to 90,000 people who were injured
Motorcycle accident fatalities occur at a rate more than 25 times higher than car accident fatalities
A quarter of the individuals who were killed in motorcycle accidents did not have a valid license.

These statistics demonstrate how deadly motorcycle accidents can be. When someone sustains serious injuries in a motorcycle collision, they may not make a full recovery. One of the chronic conditions that they might end up with is called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). How does this develop after a motorcycle accident and what can be done to treat the symptoms?

How does RSD Develop in a Motorcycle Accident?

For those who don’t know, RSD is a disease that causes chronic pain. In a motorcycle accident, the driver is often thrown from the bike and makes contact with the ground at high speed. Because of this, severe injuries are a possibility. Examples include:

Bone fractures
Internal organ contusions
Traumatic brain injuries
Muscle and ligament tears
Degloving injuries

Because the force of the impact is severe, it is not unusual for the recovery process to take weeks to months. Some people may never make a full recovery. As the body heals, inflammatory cells are rushed to the site of the injury. These cells serve a number of purposes, including:

Fighting off possible infections that may seek to take advantage of a weakened body
Healing some of the damaged cells such as organ tissues, nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments
Removing dead tissue and disposing of it in a proper manner
Stopping any bleeding by forming a blood clot at the site of the injury

Unfortunately, this inflammatory process can also become a bit too aggressive and start to damage healthy tissue as well. In some cases, this can become a chronic medical problem. When the body becomes sidetracked and attacks an otherwise healthy nerve, the brain can interpret this as pain. This is how RSD develops, and the pain could become permanent.

What are the Treatment Options Available for RSD After a Motorcycle Accident?

Someone who has developed RSD has several treatment options available to them. It is important to understand these treatment choices so that people can make an educated decision on what is best for them. Examples of some of the treatment choices include:

Pain Medication: Pain medications scale in their strength. Of course, with stronger pain medications come more risks. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as Motrin and Advil, are often the first step. If these don’t work, opioid and narcotic medications, such as Vicodin and Percocet, are other options. It is important to note that these medications can become addictive.

Nerve Injections: Nerve injections (or nerve blocks) are a mainstay of treatment. In this injection, the problem nerve is identified, and a trained physician will inject an analgesic, such as lidocaine, into the nerve to numb it. This injection is good for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. It will eventually wear off and need to be repeated.

Surgical Options: In severe cases, a nerve transection may be a permanent treatment option. The problem nerve is identified and cut. Of course, this also severs all motor and sensory functions of the nerve as well. It is important to discuss this with a medical professional before making this choice.

Ultimately, someone who develops RSD following a motorcycle accident is likely to develop a wide variety of complications. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to understand the treatment options that are available. Those who have questions or concerns should meet with a caring and compassionate RSD attorney in Sacramento. You and your family could be entitled to financial compensation.

Related Articles by Ed Smith

Contact an Experienced RSD Attorney in Sacramento

I’m Ed Smith, an RSD Lawyer in Sacramento. If someone you know has been involved in a motorcycle accident and subsequently developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, please call me at 916-382-0693. I’m available to provide free and friendly legal advice.

Everyone is asked to look at my sample results here.

Image Citation: Pixabay hosted the image at the start of this page. The CC0 Creative Commons License has granted permission to show it here.

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