Back and Neck Injury
Back and neck injuries are common and are some of the most serious injuries a person can suffer. Aside from the pain of such injuries, which may be severe, the spinal cord descends through the neck and back from the brain, controlling the rest of the body.
Loss of function, i.e., paralysis, and sensation from the site of the injury down through the rest of the body are among the serious complications of these kinds of injuries.
Symptoms of injury to the head and neck may include:
- An oddly positioned head
- Numbness or tingling that travels down through an arm or leg
- Weakness
- Problem walking
- Paralysis
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Shock (indicated by confusion; pale, clammy skin; blue tinge to the lips and fingernail beds)
- Pain in the neck or back
Common Causes of Back and Neck Injuries
Among the causes of back and neck injuries are:
- Knife or bullet wounds
- Traumatic injury from a vehicle accident
- Sports accident
- Diving accident
- Electric shock
- Extreme twisting of the body
- Fall from a significant height
- Degenerative disc disease
- Arthritis
- Pinched nerve
Treatment of Back and Neck Injuries
Treatment depends on the cause and location of the injury. The most serious trauma that can occur to the neck or back is damage to the spinal cord, a bundle of nerves that run down the back from the brain to the lowest part of the spinal column. If the cord is injured, the person may be permanently paralyzed.
Injury to the neck, back and spinal cord is always a major concern when someone has a sports injury on the field or is hurt in a car accident. Some important points on how to handle the injured include:
- Call for emergency help
- Don’t move the victim (further damage can be caused by shifting the vertebrae into the spinal cord or doing more damage to the bones or soft tissue)
- Keep the injured person from moving until medical personnel arrive
- Hold the head and neck in the same position it is in after the trauma (do not attempt to straighten the neck; keep it from bending or twisting)
- Prevent the victim from standing up and walking
- Unless the injured person is vomiting or choking on blood or you need to find out if they are breathing, do not roll him or her over
- If you must roll the person over, two people are needed for the job — one at the injured’s head and the other at his or her side (be sure to keep the head, neck and back aligned when rolling him or her onto the side)
- If the victim is not breathing, start CPR and breathing for the person
- When doing CPR, don’t move the head backward, instead, move the jaw forward by putting your fingers on either side of the head
- If you suspect a spinal injury and the victim is wearing a helmet, do not try to take it off
Get Help for Serious Injuries Caused by Negligence
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury to the neck or back, you may be able to recover damages for your medical and rehabilitation care as well as for your pain and suffering. The attorneys at Bertoldo, Baker, Carter & Smith are experts in helping people be compensated for injuries from auto and other types of accidents caused by some other person. We represent individuals that are injured in a number of scenarios, including auto accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, construction site accidents, bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents, slip and falls and more.
