Radiculopathy is a neck and back injury that often results from a traumatic event such as an accident. Treatment of this type of injury can be quite involved, which means it often lasts weeks if not months, keeping you from working or participating in essential life activities. If you sustained radiculopathy from an accident, it’s important to improve your chances of a full recovery by seeking compensation for your damages.
Whether you need help with an insurance claim, are dealing with an insurer who is refusing to pay for your radiculopathy treatment, or you believe you have a case against the party responsible for your accident, call a New York neck and back injury attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates today at 1-800-NOW-HURT.
Radiculopathy Symptoms
According to Johns Hopkins, radiculopathy, more commonly known as a pinched nerve, is caused by the compression of the nerve roots of the vertebrae (or bones in your spine). Compression of these nerve roots disrupts signals being sent by those nerves, often causing pain, numbness, or loss of sensation along the nerve path.
The main symptom of radiculopathy is pain originating from the location of the compressed nerve. This pain can spread into the chest, arms, hands, shoulders, hips, legs, and feet.
Other symptoms may include:
- Numbness or tingling in extremities
- Muscle weakness
- Lack of coordination
If you believe you are suffering from radiculopathy after an accident, visiting a qualified medical practitioner is essential–not only for your health, but in order to gather evidence if you think you have a case.
Causes of Radiculopathy
Radiculopathy is often the result of another back or neck injury such as a herniated disc or intervertebral disc degeneration. After a herniated disc, vertebra quickly become inflexible and often rub or grind together. Additionally, the nerves near the damaged disc often become trapped between vertebrae, causing pain and other symptoms.
Radiculopathy can also occur as the direct result of trauma–such as a sudden rear-end collision or a slip on the ice–where the nerve roots become compressed because of a slipped disc or misaligned vertebra.
While no one can prevent radiculopathy from happening, there are risk factors associated with the condition, including:
- Heavy manual labor
- Smoking
- Driving or operating vibrating equipment
If you engage in any of these activities on a regular basis, you may be at a higher risk of suffering from radiculopathy after an accident. But just because you had a risk factor does not mean you cannot seek compensation for your injuries from the responsible party. To learn more about whether you have a case, get in touch with Buttafuoco & Associates.
Radiculopathy Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose radiculopathy, your doctor will need to know when the pain started and gather details about any accident that may have caused the condition. During the physical examination, your doctor will check for tenderness, weakness, and range of motion. X-rays and MRIs may be necessary to see the bone and soft tissue structures of the neck and back.
After a radiculopathy diagnosis, your doctor will put together a treatment plan to help relieve pain and reduce the risk of re-injury. Pain relief may come in the form of medications for pain control and reduce inflammation. You may need to use a cervical collar or neck brace to help keep your head properly aligned and stable for healing. Specially shaped pillows may also help keep your spine straight while sleeping. A doctor may also recommend physical therapy.
When non-surgical treatments fail to provide relief, surgery may be necessary. The most common surgery for radiculopathy is vertebral fusion where a surgeon removes the damaged disc and fuses the two vertebrae near the pinched nerve together to prevent further nerve irritation. After surgery, you may have to wear a neck or back brace for several weeks.
As you can imagine, all of these treatments are not only time-consuming, but expensive. If someone else’s carelessness is the cause of your accident, a New York back and neck injury attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates can help you determine whether you have a case and, if so, recover the compensation you deserve.
Recovering Damages from Radiculopathy Treatment
Suffering from radiculopathy is not only painful, but it can also become incredibly expensive. Medical treatment for your condition may last several months and require specialists for complete rehabilitation. While recovering, your activity may be limited by a neck or back brace, and you will be unable to work for weeks or months after surgery.
If the accident that caused your radiculopathy resulted from the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to file a claim for injury compensation. Damages may include medical and hospital bills, lost time from your normal activities and work, physical therapy, and more, depending on the circumstances of your case.
The personal injury attorneys at Buttafuoco & Associates can provide accurate information and answers to your questions about your right to file a claim for damages.
Get in touch today at 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free case review.