Distinguishing between CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome) and fibromyalgia can be tough. They both cause real suffering, but they’re not the same, and the treatment needed for each is very different.

Unfortunately, doctors sometimes get these two mixed up, and that can lead to wrong medications, wasted time, and even more harm. If you think a mistake like this has happened to you and it led to worsening symptoms or other damage, you might have the right to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Why CRPS and fibromyalgia are commonly confused

People dealing with unexplained pain sometimes leave the doctor’s office without real answers. Both CRPS and fibromyalgia are conditions that make this even more likely because they share symptoms and are both challenging to identify. If you’re a patient or care for someone in pain, knowing where confusion can happen may help you spot where things went off track.

No single test to confirm either condition

Doctors can’t order a blood test, perform a quick X-ray, or send off one standard screening that will pick up CRPS or fibromyalgia. Unlike something like a broken bone or even conditions like cancer, in many cases, these disorders lack that straightforward marker. Because of this, medical teams often rule out other diseases first and make a diagnosis if they can’t find anything else that explains your condition.

Heavily dependent on the patient’s description of pain

With CRPS and fibromyalgia, doctors rely a lot on what the patient says about how they feel. Unfortunately, medical visits are often brief, and discomfort isn’t always easy to describe, which can lead to incorrect diagnoses.

Outside pressure can cause quick judgments

Doctors work under time limits and stress. Unfortunately, the fast pace in some clinics can mean a doctor jumps to a diagnosis they’re most familiar with. Fibromyalgia could be diagnosed because a doctor can’t yet identify another explanation. CRPS can sometimes be missed because it’s less common and may take more time and testing to confirm.

Critical medical differences between fibromyalgia and CRPS doctors must recognize

There are fundamental differences between complex regional pain syndrome and fibromyalgia. Doctors who pay attention can usually tell the two apart. Patients deserve a proper diagnosis, not a rushed guess. Below are some things to keep in mind about each condition:

Key features of CRPS

CRPS usually starts after trauma or damage to a limb, like surgery, a fracture, or nerve injury. Doctors who pay close attention notice physical changes in the affected area. Signs include:

• The limb may feel noticeably hotter or colder than other areas.
• Unusual changes in skin color appear (usually red, blue, or blotchy)
• Swelling
• Uncommon hair or nail growth (hair may thin out, or nails may get brittle or grow faster)
• Pain from touching that normally wouldn’t cause pain (such as a feather-light touch or clothes brushing the skin)

Key features of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia acts very differently from CRPS. The pain can appear anywhere and usually doesn’t remain confined to one limb or specific area of the body. It does not usually follow a fall, surgery, or broken bone (though it could be triggered by a fall or illness). Doctors will not usually find swelling, temperature, or color change. People with fibromyalgia often mention the following:

• Feeling fuzzy or mentally foggy, also known as “fibro fog.”
• Significant fatigue
• Digestive troubles
• Stiffness
• Sensitivity to touch, light, and sound
• Muscle and joint pain

Missing a diagnosis of either of these conditions can have serious consequences for patients. If your provider didn’t take the time to come up with a proper diagnosis, you could have a medical malpractice claim, depending on the specifics of the situation.

How a missed CRPS diagnosis harms patients

When CRPS is not diagnosed quickly, patients are at a higher risk for long-term or permanent damage. Early treatment matters – delays can make the condition harder to control and lead to long-term consequences. Here’s what a late or missed diagnosis can lead to:

Delayed nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are sometimes used during the early phase of CRPS to alleviate pain and prevent the progression of CRPS symptoms. When a diagnosis is missed, patients suffer for longer and don’t get a chance to try this type of relief.

Lost opportunity for physical therapy

Starting physical therapy specifically for CRPS as soon as possible is often beneficial and may improve outcomes, potentially offering a better chance of recovering. When diagnosis is confused with fibromyalgia or ignored outright, the opportunity to get started quickly disappears. Once muscles and joints stiffen, full movement may never return.

More intensive and risky treatments later on

CRPS treatment is most successful when started early. When early options like nerve blocks or therapy are missed, doctors and patients are often left with medications, pain pumps, or even surgery. In rare, extreme cases where all other treatments have failed – which can happen when diagnosis occurs too late – individuals with CRPS may opt for amputation. This option is still reserved for extremely rare and exceptional cases, and it remains controversial.

Greater health care costs

Ongoing pain not only impacts well-being – it increases medical bills. Hospital visits, prescriptions, pain specialists, alternative medicine, and adaptive devices can all add up. If the wrong diagnosis delays care, dealing with disability can grow even more expensive over time.

Worsening of psychological health

Undiagnosed or untreated pain often brings anxiety and depression. When a person’s doctor misses the real issue, the emotional turmoil can make it difficult for the patient to focus on recovery and continue seeking the answers they need.

When a diagnosis is late, treating the condition and the pain gets even more complicated.

When diagnostic failure becomes medical malpractice

Doctors are trusted to use their training to identify dangerous conditions and provide the correct diagnosis. Sometimes, failing to recognize a disease like CRPS goes beyond a simple mistake. It may rise to the legal definition of medical malpractice.

What is medical malpractice?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider breaches the applicable standard of care and that breach directly causes patient injury and damages. In other words, they overlook something that should have been caught and that leads to harm.

Not every error is malpractice

To legally count as malpractice, a delay or error must cause clear harm or added suffering. If your condition got worse because your doctor failed to diagnose CRPS, even when there were warning signs, a lawsuit may be possible. Doctors are required to investigate complaints carefully. When professionals skip essential steps and patients are harmed, the law may hold them accountable.

What has to be proven in a successful medical malpractice case?

To move ahead with a claim, you need evidence and documentation that:

• A professional duty existed (a doctor-patient relationship).
• The provider “breached” that duty, meaning what was done fell below normal standards for diagnosis or care.
• The mistake directly caused your harm or complications
• You suffered real damages, like medical expenses and lost enjoyment of life

If you believe you may have a medical malpractice claim, the first step should be consulting a medical malpractice lawyer with experience in CRPS or pain disorder claims. Our team has decades of experience handling complex cases and will take every step possible to help you obtain justice. Reach out today to schedule a free consultation with The CRPS Law Firm. Call us today, chat with us on our website, or complete our online contact form to get started immediately.