Spinal injuries remain one of the least understood injuries in public knowledge, especially when it comes to “moderate” spinal injuries. A severe spinal injury is devastating for the victim, but at least this type of injury is a bit easier to understand than moderate or mild instances of spinal trauma.
In a severe cases, the victim is clearly paralyzed and needs constant assistance just to perform basic functions of living. It is easy to understand how such an injury cuts off many opportunities for work immediately. However, with less severe injuries to the spine, it is not always easy to understand what the injury affects and what it does not.
Even mild spinal injuries may produce such significant pain and discomfort that the victim is practically unable to keep working, even if he or she still retains control of many functions throughout the body. If you recently suffered a spinal injury, it is absolutely essential that you understand the reach of the injury and the treatment that you require to recover. Protecting your rights and seeking fair compensation may require a personal injury claim if some other party holds responsibility for the injury.
The spine as a highway
Our spines are like highways that carry all our nerves throughout the body from their connection at the stem of the brain. These very thin, noodle-like structures are responsible for allowing us to feel sensation and control actions throughout every part of our body. When something happens that obstructs a nerve, pinches it or severs it, that nerve may react in a variety of ways.
A pinched or severed nerve may cause tingling or numbness in the area of the body it serves, such as a hand, leg or foot. It may also create intense pain either locally in one spot or radiating from an area. If the injury does not receive proper, timely treatment, it may worsen and the pain may persist indefinitely.
Damage to the spine is damage to the nerves
When discussing spinal injuries, we are actually talking about at least two separate components, the actual spinal column and its discs, which house the nerves and provides protection to them, and the nerves themselves. Car accidents and slipping injuries commonly strain the spinal column beyond what it can bear, which may crack bones in the spine or may pressure the absorbent material in the spine to the point that it ruptures.
These injuries are painful and restrictive on their own, but anytime that such an injury occurs, there is a very good chance that the nerves near the injury are also affected.
In minor and moderate instances of spinal injury, the victim may not suffer paralysis, but may suffer extreme discomfort and persistent pain that makes it practically impossible to function without a great deal of pain management medication. This, of course, affects the work that the victim can do.
If you suspect that your spinal injury may keep you out of the workplace for a period of time or indefinitely, take great care to seek out all the medical care that you need while you build a strong legal claim that protects your rights and helps you seek fair compensation for your lost income and ongoing suffering. A strong strategy can help you focus on your own recovery and ensure that you have the tools you need to rebuild your life and address your injuries.