Neck, Back & Spine Injuries
Injuries to the neck, back or spinal column from the result of an accident can have a long-term impact on the victims and their families. These types of injuries can prevent an individual from doing normal, everyday activities. In other cases, neck and spine injuries are so significant that the victim could be permanently disabled.
One of the most common types of neck injury is referred to as “whiplash”, which is typically a neck strain or neck sprain. In most cases whiplash injuries are the result of a vehicle accident which jerks the head back and forward in a violent motion causing an injury. Whiplash injuries can range from mild to severe with some injuries having long-term debilitating effects. While most symptoms of whiplash injuries develop soon after the accident, other symptoms can develop later including (but not limited to):
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Shoulder discomfort
- Blurry vision
If a person with neck or spine injury experiences unrelenting pain, severe headaches, weakness, tingling or numbness, or loss of functioning in any part of the body, it is imperative for them to seek immediate medical attention.
If symptoms do not subside and continue to get worse after a few weeks following the accident, additional tests may be necessary to determine the total extent of the injury. In very severe cases, where the neck or spinal injury has resulted in cervical disc damage, surgery may be required to repair the damaged disc.
Spinal cord injuries are the most serious neck injuries anyone can suffer. The spinal cord is responsible for sending messages from the brain to the rest of the body. It’s protected by the spinal column, also referred to as the vertebrae, as well as the other nerve tissues in the neck and back. In severe cases, spinal cord injury results in paralysis. A person with paralysis will experience partial or complete loss of feeling and functionality in their limbs or other extremities.
Cervical spinal cord injuries are often the most significant because they occur further up on the spinal cord, diminishing or severing the function of everything below that point of the body. With a cervical spinal cord injury, a patient typically loses feeling and function in the legs, arms, and trunk areas. Complications such as breathing problems, speech difficulties, and other life changing side effects can also occur with a neck or spinal cord injury.
Mark E. Barbour, Attorney at Law, takes pride in fighting for our clients to get the compensation they deserve when dealing with neck and spine injuries. Contact us today at (216) 771-8188 and speak to Mark Barbour about your case.
