Back Injury? Our SoCal Personal Injury Lawyers can Help.
The back is notoriously sensitive. Ask anyone who has back pain about their discomfort and you will be inundated with tales of woe. Making matters worse is the fact that back surgeries often fail to fully remedy the discomfort or spur the need for yet another surgery down the line. If your back hurts in any way following an auto accident, or any other incident, and you suspect they might be even partially the fault of another person or institution, contact our SoCal personal injury lawyers right away.
Common Back Injuries: Strains and Sprains
The lower portion of the back, referred to as the lumbar spine, is subject to sprains or strains at a high frequency as it absorbs the majority of the stress induced by everyday living. Strains occur when the back’s muscle fibers tear or stretch in an abnormal manner. Sprains occur when the ligaments connecting bones tear. Back sprains and strains are often the result of overuse of the back for an extensive period of time. They can also be the result of an accident. Sprains and strains inflame soft tissues and cause pain.
Pinched Nerves
Damage to, or disturbance of, nerve function caused by nerve root compression along the cervical vertebrae is usually a pinched nerve. Therefore, if you feel pain moving from your neck to your shoulder, numbness in your hands, or muscle weakness, you may likely have a pinched nerve. A pinched nerve is typically the result of application of excessive force to an inter-vertebral disc.
Herniated Discs
Slipped discs or herniated discs occur when one or several inter-vertebral discs tear. Cartilage subsequently spills and pressures the nerves, causing considerable pain.
Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which considerable pain is present across the lumbar portion of the back and/or the buttocks. This condition occurs when the vertebra move out of their normal position as a result of a severe stress fracture.
Spondylolysis is best described as a stress fracture in the spinal column’s vertebrae or bones. This condition typically impacts the fourth/fifth lumbar vertebra.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a column comprised of nerves covered with a myelin sheath and protected with 31 bone vertebrae. Tens of thousands of spinal cord injuries occur every single year in the United States alone. A spinal cord injury can undoubtedly change your life. For many, work becomes impossible following such an unfortunate injury. Some even struggle to sleep comfortably after enduring a spinal cord injury.
An incomplete spinal injury is one in which the spinal cord becomes partially detached. This partial severing makes it possible for the patient to function to a certain extent. The level of functionality hinges on the extent of damage to which the spinal cord has suffered. On the other hand, complete spinal injuries are a full severing of the nerves within a spinal cord that eliminates functionality. In some cases, it is possible to regain functionality after treatment and physical therapy. Thankfully, the majority of spinal cord injuries are the incomplete type.
Examples of incomplete spinal cord injuries include central cord syndrome, in which injury occurs within the center cord and nerves that transmit signals between the brain and spinal cord suffer damage. The result is usually arm paralysis, diminished fine motor skills, and impairment, often in the legs. Anterior cord syndrome is damage to the front portion of the spinal cord. In particular, there is usually damage to the sensory and motor pathways. Though the patient may still feel sensations, he or she will find movement challenging. Damage to a side of the spinal cord, known as Brown-Sequard syndrome, makes movement on one side of the body extremely challenging.
Back Injury? Our SoCal Personal Injury Lawyers can Help
You deserve compensation for your injured back if another party or institution is even slightly responsible for your pain. California Injury Attorneys are ready and waiting to help you. Give our SoCal personal injury lawyers a call at (323) 999-HELP to coordinate your free consultation. Our office is typically open from 8am to 5pm, but we are more than happy to take your call anytime, 24/7.