Dear Accident Compensation Corporation,

Does ACC understand that CRPS includes aspects other than pain alone? If not, then can they explain why this is in contrast to published medical research, e.g. Goh et al, Burns Trauma. 2017; 5: 2.

“Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic neurological condition involving the limbs that is characterised by severe pain along with sensory, autonomic, motor and trophic impairment”

Further references for this include:
1. Merskey H, Bodguk N. Classificaion of chronic pain. vol. 2. Seattle: IASP Press; 1994. Classification of chronic pain: descriptions of chronic pain syndromes and definitions of pain terms.
2. Harden RN, Bruehl S, Perez RSGM, Birklein F, Marinus J, Maihofner C, et al. Validation of proposed diagnostic criteria (the Budapest Criteria) for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Pain. 2010;150(2):268–274. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2010.04.030.

Does ACC accept or reject that the non-pain aspects of CRPS constitue physical injuries?

I can confirm that I am a New Zealand citizen, resident in New Zealand and as such I am eligible to make Official Information Act requests.

Yours faithfully,

S Ashworth