The spinal cord runs through a tunnel in the center of the spine. Unfortunately, this tunnel can become narrowed, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. The pain that many people experience can be excruciating.
Some people are born with spinal stenosis, but many more people acquire it through a traumatic injury, like a car crash or pedestrian accident. Spinal stenosis can cost our clients tens of thousands of dollars, but compensation might be available. Contact one of our Miami personal injury lawyers today.
Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis
Symptoms are caused by the compression on the spinal cord and the nerve roots that branch off from it. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the primary symptoms are:
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Pain in the arms, shoulder, or hand
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Loss of balance or coordination
- Incontinence
If you experience any of these symptoms following a traumatic accident, go immediately to the hospital. A doctor will try to look at your spinal column by ordering an imaging test, such as an MRI or an x-ray. A doctor will also discuss your symptoms to better understand how an accident could have injured your spine.
Treating Spinal Stenosis
This is a hard injury to treat, because any error could lead to permanent impairment if your spinal cord is injured. As with most injuries, the desired treatment will depend on the severity of your narrowing. Someone with only minor narrowing might receive conservative treatment to alleviate symptoms. Inflammation can be fought with ibuprofen or steroid injections, and pain can be managed with over-the-counter medicines or opioids. Many patients also respond to alternative therapies, like massage or acupuncture.
A key component of treatment is physical therapy. Many people avoid exercise because it causes pain, but this can lead to muscle atrophy around the body. Physical therapy aims to keep a person fit and build up their endurance and strength.
When conservative treatment fails, you might need to undergo surgery. The goal of surgery is to create more room in the spinal canal to alleviate compression. There are different surgical options, such a laminectomy, where the back portion of vertebrae is removed.
As expected, treatment can be expensive, even conservative treatment that forgoes surgery. Contact an attorney to review your case.
We May Be Able to Help You Obtain Compensation
If an accident caused your spinal stenosis, then we might be able to help. Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein is a leading Miami personal injury law firm. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 305-371-2692.