Chronic Nerve Pain from Facial Fractures
I’m Ed Smith, a Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento. Nerve injuries are some of the most challenging medical problems to deal with because of the potential for the damage to become chronic. There are numerous ways that someone might sustain a facial fracture and, because of the many nerves that run through the face, the chance of damaging even one of them is high. When someone develops chronic nerve pain as a result of facial fractures, there are several issues that must be considered.
How do Facial Fractures Happen?
There are several different ways that someone might sustain a facial fracture. For example:
Slip and Fall: One of the most common mechanisms of facial fractures is a slip and fall injury. Those who are at risk for bone fractures from a fall injury include toddlers, who are just learning how to walk, and the elderly, who develop balance problems as they get older.
Car Crashes: Auto accidents can lead to numerous serious injuries. If someone collides with an object in front of them, their face can strike the inside of the car, leading multiple facial fractures.
While there are several different ways that someone might sustain a facial fracture, it is the associated injuries that often cause the greatest quality of life problems. Damage to the face can lead to associated injuries:
- Eye socket
- Jaw
- Nasal bridge
- Skull
- Spinal Cord
While these can be stressful, one of the chronic problems that could stem from a facial fracture is the nerve pain. How does this happen?
How does Chronic Nerve Pain from Facial Fractures Develop?
When someone sustains facial fractures in a traumatic event, it is possible that someone could sustain chronic nerve pain as a result. According to the National Institute of Health:
- Chronic pain is the most common reason behind long-term disability claims.
- One in every four Americans has had some form of pain that has lasted longer than 24 hours.
- Pain can lead to serious mental health conditions, such as depression.
- Chronic pain is more common than heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
If the bones of the face become fragmented and shoot throughout the rest of the face, these small fragments act like pieces of shrapnel that can damage nearby structures. This includes blood vessels such as arteries and veins as well as nerves. Any damage to these nerves can lead to chronic pain as a result. This can manifest itself in any number of different ways, including:
- Feeling like certain areas of your face go numb from time to time.
- Experiencing a stabbing sensation intermittently.
- Feeling the pain as an electric, shock-like sensation that could be more debilitating than anything you have ever felt before.
These can be major problems that demand the attention of medical professionals.
Treatment Choices for Nerve Pain
Someone who describes the pain above has several different treatment options at his or her disposal. The mantra regarding pain medication is to start low and go slow. This is because of the addictive nature of many of the stronger pain medications. Most people start with Tylenol and Ibuprofen before working their way up to stronger pain medications. If this doesn’t work, stronger medications, such as Gabapentin, could be used. Depending on the type of pain that someone is experiencing, surgery could be used to relieve the nerve pain. Sometimes, the pain results from nerve compression that can be relieved with surgery. If this pain is resulting from a traumatic accident, it could be a good idea to sit down and speak with an experienced lawyer. There are many options that families may want to consider regarding their accident before making a decision.
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Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Car Accident Lawyer in Sacramento. If you or a family member has been dealing with chronic pain from nerve damage caused in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
I am honored to be a lawyer of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
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