Andrew was 42-years-old and worked as a warehouseman. Whilst he was walking past a stack of metal box sections on a pallet, a forklift truck reversed into the stack, causing one of the sections to fall and strike his right forearm.
Although he was in immediate pain, an x-ray showed that there were no broken bones. He was told that he had bad bruising. This initially seemed to be getting better, but after a month or so it had not healed completely. Andrew then started to develop some very unpleasant symptoms, including a burning pain in his right hand and forearm, which even on cold days also started to sweat.
“An x-ray showed that there were no broken
bones. He was told that he had bad bruising.
This initially seemed to be getting better, but
after a month or so it had not healed completely.”
Eventually his forearm and hand started to swell and became extremely sensitive to touch. It reached a point where he could not even bear to wear long sleeves. His doctor signed him off from work but seemed perplexed as to the cause of the problem. Andrew undertook his own research and found that his symptoms seemed to exactly fit a condition known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
His doctor then referred him to a specialist, who conducted a series of nerve block injections. Whilst these helped to reduce the pain in the short term, his symptoms soon returned.
“His doctor signed him off from work but seemed
perplexed as to the cause of the problem.
Andrew undertook his own research on the
internet and found that his symptoms seemed
to exactly fit a condition known as
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).”
Andrew then came to BLB. His medical records were then collated professionally, a medical chronology prepared and a detailed witness statement taken. We also obtained statements from his family, friends and colleagues to understand how the accident had affected every aspect of his life.
We instructed leading experts in pain medicine and pain psychiatry, who believed that Andrew may benefit from Spinal Cord Stimulation. After much consideration and discussion with his family, Andrew decided to proceed. The cost of around £30,000 was obtained from the insurance company.
“In addition to helping him financially, further
interim payments funded firstly a course of
private pain management, followed by a period
of retraining in new skills. This helped
Andrew find a new job.”
Following a re-examination by the medical experts, it was agreed that Andrew would not be able to return to his job in the warehouse. Shortly thereafter his employer terminated his position with them on the grounds of long term incapacity.
In addition to helping him financially, further interim payments funded a course of private pain management, followed by a period of retraining in new skills. This helped Andrew find a new job, with which he was delighted.