Nerve Damage
Nerve damage causes pain, weakness, numbness, and even lasting limitations that interfere with daily life. When these injuries result from a car crash, fall, workplace incident, medical mistake, or another traumatic event, you have the right to hold the at-fault parties fully accountable. And you deserve an experienced legal team that will fight for the best medical treatment available and the maximum compensation you need to protect your future.
Read on to learn how nerve damage happens, how doctors diagnose it, and how it can affect a personal injury claim.
At Zehl & Associates, we connect our clients with the best medical treatment available, help them navigate medical bills and reasonable living expenses while their cases are pending, and stand by them every step of the way. We understand how overwhelming life becomes after a serious injury. We are here to lift the burden from your family and fight for the full compensation you need to move forward.
Table of Contents
- What Is Nerve Damage?
- What Are Common Symptoms of Nerve Damage?
- What Types of Accidents Can Cause Nerve Damage?
- How Is Nerve Damage Diagnosed?
- How Is Nerve Damage Treated?
- What Compensation May Be Available for Nerve Damage?
- Contact the Undefeated Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Zehl & Associates for Help Today
What Is Nerve Damage?
The nervous system carries messages between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. When a nerve is stretched, compressed, cut, or otherwise damaged, those messages may be interrupted.
Nerve damage can affect movement, sensation, bodily functions, or several of these at once. The symptoms depend on which nerves were injured and how serious the damage is.
Some injuries involve peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Others may be connected to serious spinal cord or brain trauma. Because nerve symptoms can develop or change over time, medical evaluation is important after a significant injury.
What Are Common Symptoms of Nerve Damage?
Nerve damage does not affect everyone in the same way. Symptoms may occur near the injury or extend into other areas of the body.
Common symptoms include:
- Numbness or tingling
- Burning or shooting pain
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of sensation
- Muscle cramps or spasms
- Problems with balance
- Increased sensitivity to touch
- Difficulty moving part of the body
- Loss of coordination
Some people experience constant symptoms, while others have pain or numbness that comes and goes.
Symptoms that seem minor at first can become more noticeable over time. Seeking medical care can help determine whether they are related to nerve damage or another condition.
What Types of Accidents Can Cause Nerve Damage?
Nerves can be damaged by direct trauma, pressure, stretching, or injuries to surrounding bones and tissue. As a result, many types of accidents can cause nerve injuries.
Common causes may include motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck accidents, falls, construction accidents, and workplace incidents. Deep cuts and crushing injuries can also damage nerves.
Nerve damage can also occur during surgery or other medical treatment. In some cases, a patient may have a medical malpractice claim if the injury resulted from a healthcare provider’s negligence.
Determining what caused the injury is important in a personal injury case because compensation generally depends on establishing who was legally responsible.
How Is Nerve Damage Diagnosed?
Doctors may begin by asking about the accident, symptoms, medical history, and areas where the patient experiences pain or weakness. A physical examination can help evaluate reflexes, muscle strength, sensation, and movement.
Additional testing may be needed. Electromyography (EMG) can measure electrical activity in muscles, while nerve conduction studies can examine how quickly electrical signals travel through nerves. Imaging tests may also help doctors identify injuries affecting surrounding structures.
Diagnosis can be important for both treatment and a personal injury claim. Medical records can document the nature of the injury, symptoms following the accident, and the treatment a patient may need.
How Is Nerve Damage Treated?
Treatment depends on the nerve involved, the severity of the injury, and whether the nerve is expected to heal.
Treatment may involve:
- Medication to manage pain
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Braces or other assistive devices
- Injections
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
Some damaged nerves can recover gradually, and improvement may take months. More severe injuries can cause permanent loss of function or chronic pain.
Long-term nerve damage may also affect a person’s ability to work, drive, exercise, complete household tasks, or live independently. These effects can become important when evaluating the full consequences of an injury.
What Compensation May Be Available for Nerve Damage?
A person who suffers nerve damage because of another party’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for accident-related losses. The amount available depends on the facts of the case.
Compensation may account for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, physical impairment, and other qualifying losses. Future damages may also be important when the injury requires ongoing treatment or limits a person’s ability to work.
The seriousness and permanence of the nerve damage can significantly affect case value. Medical evidence, employment records, expert opinions, and documentation of how the injury affects daily activities may help establish the extent of these losses.
Contact the Undefeated Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Zehl & Associates for Help Today
Nerve damage can cause chronic pain, physical limitations, and financial losses that continue long after an accident. If someone else caused your injury, you may have the right to seek compensation for the full impact on your life.
At Zehl & Associates, our undefeated Houston personal injury attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for injured clients. Our skilled team is prepared to investigate your accident, determine who is responsible, and fight for maximum compensation. Contact us today at (888) 603-3636 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your nerve damage claim and legal options.