Neck and Back Injuries

Trust Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Team of Lawyers and Paralegals at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. to Battle to Obtain the Best Result After a Neck or Back Injury in Western New York

After a personal injury, prompt medical treatment is important. After an accident, your body releases the hormone adrenaline, which blocks the sensation of pain. As a result, you may be more hurt than you initially realize. Seeking medical treatment immediately after an accident allows a doctor to examine your injuries and prescribe a course of treatment that is personalized for you.

Common causes of neck and back injuries include:

1. Car Accidents;
2. Truck Accidents;
3. Construction Accidents;
4. Pedestrian Accidents;
5. Motorcycle Accidents;
6. Bicycle Accidents; and
7. Slip and Falls.

If you, or a loved one, suffered a neck or back injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you deserve the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his top-rated team of neck and back injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York have settled $175,000,000.00 on behalf of their clients and we will battle to obtain the best possible result for YOU!

A spinal column is composed of 33 bones, called vertebrae, which are divided into five sections; namely, the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid back), lumbar (low back), sacrum and coccyx (tailbone).

The vertebrae are stacked on top of one another and separated and cushioned by an intervertebral disc. An intervertebral disc, which serves as a shock-absorber between vertebrae, is structured like a jelly doughnut which is comprised of a tough, outer ring and a gel-filled center.

The spinal cord runs through an opening behind the body of the vertebrae called the vertebral foramen.

The force of an accident or fall can cause parts of the spinal column to shift. This may result in debilitating pain and can require extensive medical treatment to fix or make the pain tolerable. If you, or a loved one, experienced spine pain as a result of an accident, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of Buffalo, New York neck and back injury lawyers at 716-839-3939 for your free consultation.

It is common for individuals involved in an accident to experience neck or back pain. In addition, an individual might experience sharp, shooting pain or tingling and numbing sensations in his or her arms or legs which may be caused by a non-obvious neck or back injury. Often a proper diagnosis of a neck or back injury comes after both a physical examination and diagnostic testing.

The most common forms of diagnostic testing after a neck or back injury include:

1. MRI

   Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique which uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to form pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone and other physiological structures of the body.

   MRIs may be used to diagnose herniated, bulging or ruptured intervertebral discs, nerve impingement, masses or blood clots.

2. CT-scan

   Computerized Tomography (CT-scan) is a medical imaging technique which uses X-rays to produce a cross-sectional, 360-degree image of bone, soft tissue and blood vessels.

   CT-scans may be used to diagnose injuries within bony structures or the brain, lungs or abdomen.

3. X-ray

   An X-ray is a medical imaging technique which uses a small amount of radiation to capture images of bone and other dense structures within the body.

   X-rays may be used to diagnose bone fractures or dislocations.

4. EMG/NCS

   An electromyogram (EMG)/nerve conduction study (NCS) is a two-part test which measures and records the electrical activity of the muscles in order to identify nerve damage or the source of muscle weakness.

   An EMG/NCS may be used to diagnose a neuromuscular disorder, muscle inflammation, pinched nerves and peripheral nerve damage.

If you, or a loved one, suffered a neck or back injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, immediately contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and the top-rated Buffalo, New York neck and back injury lawyers of the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at 716-839-3939 for a free consultation. We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We will come to you and there is never a fee until we WIN for you.

The sudden movement and force put on the head, neck and spinal column following an accident often results in muscle, joint, intervertebral disc, ligament and/or nerve damage.

Common neck and back injuries following an accident include:

1. Whiplash

   Whiplash is a neck injury that results when the neck stretches too far due to a forceful, back-and-forth movement. As a result, an individual may experience headaches and neck pain or stiffness. Whiplash is a common injury following a rear-end car, truck or SUV accident.

2. Herniated Disc

   A disc herniation occurs when the gel-filled center of the intervertebral disc protrudes through the surrounding, outer ring. As a result, the surrounding nerves become irritated which results in pain, numbness or weakness in other parts of the body.

3. Sciatica

   Sciatica often results from a disc herniation compressing part of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the low back through the hips, buttocks and legs. As a result, an individual experiences inflammation, pain, numbness or tingling in the affected leg.

4. Bulging Disc

   A disc bulge occurs when pressure from the center of an intervertebral disc causes the outer ring to stretch and become uneven on one side. Without proper treatment, the disc may continue to stretch and eventually tear, becoming a herniated disc.

5. Cervical or Lumbar Strain/Sprain

   A strain is a stretching injury to the ligaments, tendons and/or muscles of the neck or low back, often a result of trauma or excessive force applied to the neck or back.

6. Spinal Cord Injury

   A spinal cord injury involves damage to the spinal cord which causes temporary or permanent changes in the strength, sensation and body function below the level of injury. As a result of a spinal cord injury, an individual might experience paralysis or weakness in parts of the body, numbing or tingling sensation in the extremities or loss of bladder and bowel control.

If you, or a loved one, were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of neck and back injury lawyers in Buffalo, New York at 716-839-3939. We are top rated personal injury lawyers in Western New York.

Neck and back pain can make ordinary tasks such as standing, sitting or bending, abnormally difficult or even intolerable. Depending on the severity and duration of your pain, a physician may prescribe various forms of non-surgical treatment for neck and back injuries. However, if conservative treatment fails, surgical intervention is often considered.

Immediately following an accident, individuals commonly seek emergency treatment at a hospital or emergency clinic. There, doctors can assess the severity of their condition. Upon discharge, follow-up treatment with a primary care doctor is generally recommended.

A primary care doctor will assess your condition and start you on the path to recovery. Often, they may recommend forms of conservative therapy treatment for neck and back pain, including:

1. Chiropractic treatment;

2. Physical therapy;

3. Medical massage therapy; or

4. Occupational therapy.

Additionally, an individual may seek treatment with a pain management doctor for ongoing neck and back pain. Pain management doctors specialize in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from pain and often prescribe prescription medications or perform injections to help reduce an individual’s pain. More information about pain management doctors and the different types of medication treatment and injection therapy that they can offer an individual experiencing neck and back pain can be found here.

If, after physical examination or diagnostic testing, a doctor determines that your condition warrants further evaluation by a specialist, you might be referred to one of the following for your neck and back pain:

1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctor;
2. Neurologist/Neurosurgeon; or
3. Orthopedic surgeon.

Unfortunately, conservative treatment does not always work and an individual’s neck or back pain may continue to worsen or stop improving. At that point, an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon might recommend surgery. Common forms of surgery for neck and back injuries include:

1. Spinal Fusion. A surgery which joins two or more vertebrae together into a single structure—preventing the vertebrae from moving and causing pain. Plates and screws are used to hold the bones in place until they have fused properly.
2. Discectomy. A surgery involving the removal of either a portion of or an entire damaged intervertebral disc in order to relieve pressure on the surrounding nerves.
3. Laminotomy/Laminectomy. A surgery which removes either a portion of or the entirety of the bony arches (lamina) of the spinal canal. As a result, the spinal canal is widened and pressure on the spinal cord is relieved.
4. Foraminotomy/Foraminectomy. A surgery which removes either a small or large amount of bone and other tissue in order to expand the exit openings for and relieve compression of the nerve roots exiting the spinal cord.
5. Corpectomy. A surgery which removes either a portion of or an entire vertebral body. As a result, pressure on the spinal cord and exiting nerve is relieved.

After surgery, an individual may have to continue with physical therapy and other forms of rehabilitation to promote healing and strengthen the surrounding muscles.

An accident resulting in neck or back pain may force an individual to engage in extensive medical treatment in an effort to get back to pre-accident status. An individual might have to make significant changes in their pattern of daily living, be disabled from work and be prevented from engaging in activities that they previously enjoyed. If you, or a loved one, have experienced neck or back pain because of someone else’s negligence, contact the Buffalo, New York neck and back injury lawyers at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. now at 716-839-3939 so that we can help you.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!