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How to Know the Symptoms of Back and Spinal Injury

On Behalf of | Mar 29, 2019 | Serious Injuries

Back injury – often called spinal injury – affects many victims of personal injury cases. Car accidents are the most common cause of personal injury cases, and according to SpinalCord.com, car accidents are also the leading cause of spinal injuries.

Back and spinal injuries are dangerous, and can lead to serious long term damage. But spinal injuries are especially dangerous because they might not be detected by the victims right away. The Mayo Clinic says that the time between injury and treatment is critical in determining the extent and severity of complications and in increasing chances of recovery.

The Mayo Clinic warns that if spinal injuries are left untreated they can result in even worse injuries. Spinal injuries can lead to permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. If you’ve been in any kind of accident, you should have a medical professional examine you for spinal injuries right away.

Signs and Symptoms of Back Injuries

According to Health Direct, common symptoms of back injury include:

  • pain or tenderness (sore to touch)
  • pain that worsens with movement, coughing, sneezing or laughing
  • stiffness or difficulty moving
  • difficulty standing up straight
  • muscles in spasm on either side of the spine
  • bruising
  • swelling
  • pain that radiates down one or both legs

Signs of the most serious kinds of back injury are listed below. If you or a loved one are experiencing the following symptoms you should seek medical attention immediately!

  • difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • numbness or pins and needles to the arms, legs, hands or feet
  • paralysis
  • blood in the urine.

Treatment for Back Injuries

There are many available treatments for back injuries – including exercise, physical therapy, pain medications, and surgery. The two main types of surgery used to treat spinal injuries are artificial disk replacement and spinal fusion. If you need to undergo surgery for a back injury, it’s important to know the differences between these two treatments and the potential risks involved.

  • Artificial disk replacement: While the benefits include the hope of retaining some motion, the risk is that the prosthesis may wear out over time, requiring the patient to undergo more surgery. In some rare cases, disk migration can cause further complications, requiring patients to undergo additional surgery.
  • Spinal fusion: This means that two or more vertebrae are fused together. Spinal fusion can increase stability of the spine, and, in some cases, can help reduce back pain. However, the risks include pain, blood clots, infection, graft infection, and nerve damage.

Justice for Your Back Injury

The Mayo Clinic says that when you’ve experienced a spinal injury, it can affect almost every aspect of your life. You might feel the effects of your injury mentally, emotionally and socially. Even if there is potential for recovery, you will still be facing a mountainous stack of medical bills for your treatments. If you’ve been injured in the Monroe, LA area because of someone else’s negligence, The Downs Law Firm is here to help you get the compensation you need and deserve! Talk to the experienced personal injury attorney today! Call us at 318-284-8551  or contact us online to get started.