Louisville, KY Back and Neck Injuries Lawyer

Among all the areas of our body where injuries can occur, injuries to the back and neck might be the most dangerous to our wellbeing—and the most painful. A back or neck injury can have a magnified effect, causing pain throughout the entire body and hampering mobility to extreme levels.

This is largely due to the fact that the neck and spine protect the spinal cord, a fragile bundle of nerves that carries signals back and forth from the brain to all other areas of the body. When the back or neck become damaged, the spine and spinal cord also have a high chance of suffering damage. This can cause serious, long-lasting pain and suffering throughout the entire body if not quickly treated.

Common Symptoms

There is often more to a neck or back injury than simple neck and back pain. The spinal cord’s nerve endings correspond with every single part and function of the body. A back or neck injury which affects the spinal cord will often compromise a variety of bodily functions. A serious back or neck injury can also fail to fully heal, leaving the victim with chronic pain.

Common neck and back injury symptoms include the following:

• Chronic back and neck pain, especially after long periods of sitting, standing, or walking
• Excessive neck and back stiffness
• Decreased mobility, decreased range of movement
• Dizziness
• Pulsating pain or numbness through the arms, legs, or hands
• Headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Irritability, fatigue
• Difficulty getting a good night’s rest
• Loss of bowel or bladder function

It’s important to have back and neck injuries diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible, but also correctly. If a damaged spine doesn’t heal properly or is not given enough time to heal, chronic back pain can worsen, leading to an entire life negatively impacted by pain. Lower back pain is one of the leading causes of disability throughout the United States and perhaps on a world-wide level.

Common Causes

There are many possible causes for neck and back injuries, but many of which are tied to significant trauma. The spine supports and carries the weight of your entire body, so when injuries and traumas occur, the spine and its fragile spinal cord often take a heavy beating. Common injuries and traumas which impact the spinal area the most include the following:

• Sports or recreational accident, fall, collision, or contact trauma
• Direct blow to the top of the head, neck, or back
• Penetrating injury to the neck or back
• Car accident
• Trucking accident
• Motorcycle accident
• Workplace accident such as a fall, collision, or slip

In the case of vehicle-related injuries such as automobile accident or motorcycle accident injuries, whiplash can commonly affect both the neck and back area and can lead to serious complications if not allowed to heal properly. Whiplash is caused by a sudden backward and/or forward jerking motion of the head and neck area, typically resulting after the impact of an accident or after having to come to an abrupt stop. In many cases, the symptoms of whiplash (stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and lower back pain) may not even become noticeable until 24 hours or more after the accident occurs.

Since the spine, neck, and back are necessary for so many body functions and carry the weight of your entire musculoskeletal frame, years of poor posture, unhealthy work conditions, and stress can amplify a work or accident-related injury, contributing to debilitating pain when you least expect it. This type of pain can come and go or present itself days or weeks after the injury originally occurred. When it comes to back or neck injuries, it’s always better to take extra precautions and see a doctor as soon as the accident or injury takes place.

Help from a Louisville, KY Back and Neck Injuries Lawyer: Don’t Suffer Needlessly

Many Americans tend to brush away neck and back pain as though it isn’t that serious or isn’t something that’s worth taking time off work for. This belief couldn’t be any farther from the truth, however. Back and neck pain can lead to severe, chronic pain and serious mobilization issues if not taken care of. This is especially the case when the pain is a direct result of a past injury.

If you were a victim of a neck or back injury that was not your fault, you might be entitled to receive compensation for any time spent off work as well as assistance in paying your medical bills. A Louisville, KY back and neck injuries lawyer like Tad Thomas of Thomas Law Offices can help you get back on your feet again. Give our Louisville office a call today for a free case evaluation.