Get Social Security Disability & SSI Benefits: CRPS & RSD

Legal Author - Travis Hansen, Esq.
Updated - September 1, 2025

Winning Your Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome & Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Case

What Is Important Medically

Complex regional pain syndrome and reflex sympathetic dystrophy are used interchangeably and the distinction between the two conditions is either viewed as non-existent or so minimal as to not make a difference. The health community today nearly exclusively refers to the condition at complex regional pain syndrome, and hence, so will this review.

Complex regional pain syndrome is an unusual medical condition and therefore an interesting Social Security and SSI disability case to adjudicate. The syndrome is also rare. There are about 200,000 occurrences in America per year. Complex regional pain syndrome is the dysfunction of nerves in a particular region of the body generally affecting the extremities. There are two types of the syndrome. Type I is diagnosed when there had been a confirmed nerve injury - usually caused by an accident, trauma, or surgery. Type II is diagnosed when there has not been a confirmed nerve injury. The syndrome is also usually quite severe.

You will need to submit to Social Security evidence of your diagnosis. This is usually the most significant challenge in a complex regional pain syndrome case because there is no diagnostic test. Diagnosis is primarily done by clinical assessment (doctor observation) and patient history. Therefore, it is critical you obtain medical care, and that your doctor understands the nature of your syndrome. An absence of either produces no diagnosis, few medical records, and for the medical records that do exist, minimal insight into the nature of the syndrome and your symptoms. Diagnosis may also be done by EMG's or thermography (infrared camera to detect heat patterns and blood flow). EMG's show nerve dysfunction, but it is not a definitive tool used for diagnosis. That said, if you have complex regional pain syndrome, you will have an abnormal EMG. Bottom line: make sure your doctor has made a definite diagnosis in your medical records, and obtain an EMG.

Symptoms vary but they are usually quite significant. The very nature of the syndrome is that the symptoms are dramatically more severe than can be explained by the medical evidence that diagnoses or describes the syndrome. This is usually the second most significant challenge in a complex regional pain syndrome Social Security disability case. Again, Social Security's understanding of the severe degree of your symptoms is going to be based on your doctor's level of knowledge about the syndrome, a definitive diagnosis, objective testing if any, and how detailed his notes are. Symptoms generally include -

1. Extreme pain;
2. Burning sensation;
3. Muscle atrophy;
4. Weakness;
5. Limited range of motion;
6. Loss of function; or
7. Skin, nail, or hair changes at the pain site (this is the most severe symptom and therefore the symptom that is considered a definitive symptom or criteria of the syndrome).

Complex regional pain syndrome is poorly understood. The cause is unknown and no cure exists. Therefore, treatment is limited and symptoms are very poorly controlled. Treatment generally includes attempts to alleviate pain - pain medications, nerve blocks, and muscle relaxants. Physical therapy is rarely helpful. Surgery may be appropriate if your doctor can determine that your complex regional pain syndrome is caused by an identifiable nerve compression.

There is no Social Security & SSI listing for CRPS or RSD.

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