Back injuries are often devastating. Any type of injury to the back can have a long-term impact on mobility and earning ability. When a back injury involves damage to the spinal column, it may result in permanent paralysis and the need for long-term attendant care.
If you or a loved one has injured their back recently, it’s important to understand the serious implications that may result from this type of injury. Gaining an understanding of how back injuries are treated and their possible long-term effects can help you identify when you should contact a back injury lawyer for help in seeking compensation.
Understanding Back Injuries
A back injury is a general term that refers to any form of physical harm to the back. Back injuries can impact the neck, shoulders, arms, back, and legs. A spinal injury can involve damage to the bones, nerves, or soft tissue. Common soft tissues that get injured are tendons, muscles, and ligaments.
The most common form of back injury is a spinal injury. The spinal column runs from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It is composed of 33 vertebrae separated by soft discs. The spinal column is responsible for most of the body’s mobility, such as walking, sitting, standing, bending, and twisting.
The nerves that run through the spinal column extend throughout the entire body, assisting with motor function, sensation, and organ function. Any injury to the spinal column can have a complex, far-reaching impact on any other connected bodily functions.
What Are the Common Causes of Back Injuries?
Back injuries can occur in a wide variety of situations. The spinal column has little protection in the event of an accident. As a result, accidents that result in falls, being crushed, or blunt force trauma can easily cause severe spinal damage.
Some of the most common types of accidents that result in back injuries include:
Motor vehicle accidents and workplace accidents are two of the most common sources of back injuries. Car accidents can result in being crushed or thrown from the vehicle. Work accident back injuries, especially in industrial settings or on construction sites, most often happen due to crushed-by accidents, caught-between accidents, and falls.
Often, these accident types leave the victim with permanent, life-altering injuries that lead to extensive medical bills, loss of earning ability, and the need for long-term attendant care.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Back Injury?
The signs and symptoms of a back injury can range significantly. A severe back injury can result in immediate paralysis. In a situation like this, it is evident right away that the victim has suffered a serious back injury.
In other cases, a back injury may initially only involve minor symptoms. For example, a cracked vertebra may only involve mild initial pain, soreness, or stiffness. However, over time, the spinal fracture can worsen, causing symptoms to gradually grow more severe.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms associated with a back injury include:
- Pain ranging from mild to severe
- Numbness or tingling
- Reduced range of motion
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Difficulting moving the neck, arms, or legs
- Bruising or discoloration
- Breathing difficulty
Any time an accident results in possible trauma to the back, it’s important to immediately seek medical attention. Diagnosing a back injury promptly ensures the victim receives medical treatment before the injury can worsen. Failing to see a doctor right away can also negatively impact the victim’s ability to recover back injury compensation later.
How Do Doctors Diagnose a Back Injury?
Any time an accident impacts the back, the victim should seek a thorough medical exam to ensure any injuries are diagnosed promptly. A doctor will conduct an initial physical examination, checking for pain and loss of strength or range of motion. If a back injury is suspected, a doctor will order additional imaging.
This can include:
- X-ray
- MRI
- CT scan
- Neurological tests
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
Together, back injury tests help the medical team identify the nature and type of the injury. Often, a back injury involves some combination of damage to the spinal bones, soft tissue, and nerves. Urine testing additionally helps identify whether there is damage to the kidneys, which are located in the lower back.
What Are Some Treatment Options for a Back Injury?
When a back injury involves damage to the spine, nerves, or organs, immediate surgery may be necessary to help stabilize the injury site. In some cases, the victim may need metal rods or plates inserted into the back to help stabilize spinal function.
After initial surgery, the recovery period may involve resting for several weeks or even a few months. When the victim has sufficiently recovered, they will likely need to undergo physical or occupational therapy to help restore strength and range of motion.
In the most severe cases, a back injury can result in paralysis. Paralysis usually impacts everything below the point of injury. Thus, a lower back injury can result in the inability to move the legs, while an injury nearer the neck can result in the inability to move the arms, legs, and torso.
Because the spinal column is highly complex, treatment options for a back injury that results in paralysis depend on the specifics of the injury. In some cases, surgery and rehabilitation can lead to restored function over time. In other cases, there is little a doctor can do, and the victim is left with permanent paralysis.
Recovering Back Injury Compensation
Even when a back injury eventually results in a full recovery, it can involve incurring significant medical bills. It might also result in weeks or months of lost wages.
When a back injury involves catastrophic injury, the injured individual may need to change careers or may lose earning ability entirely. Cases involving paralysis typically lead to the need for long-term attendant care and expensive medical devices.
A personal injury lawyer can help build a back injury claim and negotiate a settlement.
Back injury compensation can provide money for costs like:
- Past and future medical bills
- Medical devices
- Therapists and specialists
- Attendant care
- Past and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
The more serious a back injury is, the more likely it is that the victim and their family will need to recover compensation to be able to afford the lifelong costs of the injury.
Call a Back Injury Lawyer For Legal Help
If you or a loved one has suffered a back injury in Lawrenceville, GA, Lawson Personal Injury Attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation. You have a limited amount of time to seek compensation, so it’s important to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the injury.
Call today at 678-446-3655 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced back injury lawyer in Lawrenceville.