Spinal Nerve Root Avulsion
Every day, people are seriously injured or killed in car accidents. Some of these car accidents are no more than minor fender benders. Others can result in multi-car pileups on the interstate. Regardless of the severity of the car accident, serious injuries can always occur. Some of the statistics regarding car accidents that have been published by Driver Knowledge include:
- More than 630 people are killed in car accidents weekly.
- Over three million people sustain injuries in car accidents annually, with most of these people having long-term complications as a result of their injuries.
- More than six million auto accidents occur in the United States every year.
Just as car accidents can range in their scope and severity, the injuries that people could sustain span the spectrum as well. Some of the most serious injuries that people could suffer from are injuries of the spinal cord.
Potential Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord plays a critical role in the body. It transports nerves and their associated signals between the body and the brain. Because of this, injuries of the spinal cord could lead to a serious disruption of these signals, which results in serious motor and sensory deficits. Some of the common complications of spinal cord injuries include:
- The inability to move certain parts of the body.
- A severe reduction in muscle strength.
- Possible shooting, shock-like pains that run down the arms and legs.
- Numbness or tingling in certain parts of the body.
- Chronic pain in one or more extremities.
When people sustain injuries of the spinal cord, it is important to seek medical care as quickly as possible. The sooner these injuries are diagnosed, the faster they can be treated and the sooner the recovery process can begin.
A Nerve Root Avulsion in the Spine
One of the traumatic injuries of the spine that someone could sustain is a nerve root avulsion. As the nerves run down the spinal cord, they exit the spine through small holes in the vertebrae. Upon exiting, the nerves travel to their assigned location in the body. In auto accidents, the severe jerking and twisting forces could cause the nerve to tear at this opening. This is termed a nerve root avulsion. A partial tear could lead to shooting pains along that part of the body. A full tear could lead to the loss of function of that nerve completely. Nerve root avulsions can be diagnosed using a combination of physical symptoms and imaging. In some cases, this nerve root avulsion could be repaired surgically.
Watch YouTube video: What to Expect During a Nerve Root block at CDI. This 3-dimensional video demonstrates a procedure to treat a nerve root avulsion in the spine.
Contacting a Personal Injury Law Firm
When a loved one has suffered a serious traumatic injury of the spinal cord, this could lead to lifelong complications that impact the entire family. Some of the issues that could arise following an injury and lead to serious complications include:
- The daily need for healthcare in the home.
- Issues with mobility around the house.
- Long-term medical care and associated costs.
- Problems related to the inability to work.
- Mental health problems that arise after a serious injury.
Clearly, personal injuries can have long-term complications and this could place the entire family under emotional and financial stress. Because of this, it is vital for everyone to take a few minutes to speak with a personal injury attorney in Sacramento following a serious accident. An injury lawyer will go over options with you for obtaining financial compensation for your injuries in the event they were caused by negligence on the part of another person or entity. Most attorneys provide free consultations and take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no fees up front.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. An avulsion of a spinal nerve root can lead to motor and sensory problems. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
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Spinal Nerve Root Avulsion: AutoAccident.com
Photo by: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Spinal Nerve Root Avulsion.
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