Personal Experiences From A Minnesota Work Comp Lawyer Who Has Had Cervical Disc / Neck Surgery.

Years ago I sustained an injury resulting in numbness down my right arm/hand and pain into my upper right shoulder/arm.  My family physician eventually ordered an MRI which revealed a herniated disc and then referred me to a neurosurgeon for a consultation.  I underwent physical therapy, was prescribed a steroid and eventually underwent a C6-7 laminectomy and microdiscectomy.  The surgery was a success in relieving all of the pain symptoms and most of the numbness and weakness sensation.  I subsequently ran many races including a marathon.

My symptoms and outcome may be different then yours so let's take a look at the most commons symptoms of a cervical disc injury. 

Symptoms

Symptoms of cervical herniated disc may include:

• Pain that radiates down the arm to the hand and/or fingers
• Numbness and/or tingling in the shoulder, arm, or hands• Weakness of hand and/or arms
• Difficulty with fine motor skills in the hands and arms
• Tingling or "shock" type feelings down the torso or into the legs

You may have one or all of these symptoms.  I had them all to some degree before the surgery.

Certain positions or movements such as looking up and down or left and right of the neck can intensify the pain. Often the symptoms of a cervical herniated disc often resemble other disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome  injury to the rotator cuff.  I have actually had clients misdiagnosed with both CTS and rotator cuff injuries who actually had cervical disc injuries.

Causes

Direct trauma such as hitting your head, lifting heavy objects, sudden jarring of the neck and/0r head or repetitive actions over time can result in injury to the cervical disc.  These injuries can cause a cervical herniated disc or spinal cord compression, where disc material pushes on a "foraminal nerve" the spinal cord. This is a much more serious condition and may require a more aggressive treatment plan. Spinal cord compression symptoms include: 

• Awkward or stumbling gait

Treatment

There are many methods to attempt to treat these conditions which I have discussed in other blogs including physical therapy, traction, chiropractic care, medications and even various types of surgery.  You and your doctor will have to determine what is the best protocol for you.  I am happy to share my personal thoughts on what I experienced and what hundreds of my clients have done over the years.  Visit our website or call today at 651-333-3636.  We are work comp experts who recover millions of dollars of benefits for our clients every year and unlike many firms we have decades of experience in workers compensation.  We represent clients across the entire state of Minnesota.

I Have A Spinal Cord Injury Because Of A Work Injury. What Can Be Done To Help Me.

Spinal cord injury cases can involve significant costly damages both medically and monetarily. It is extremely important that the injured party receive proper representation by an experienced workers compensation attorney familiar with these injuries. In the past Atkinson Law Offices and Minnesota Disability have represented individuals with serious spinal cord injuries including quadriplegic spinal cord injuries.

In serious accidents the spinal cord can be damaged, anywhere from the neck down through the lower back. The spinal cord is designed to transmit both feeling and control between the brain and the rest of our body. If a traumatic event damages the spinal cord, communication between the brain and other parts of the body can be cut off, resulting in varying levels of paralysis and loss of function. These injuries can be devastating to the injured party and his or her loved ones.

Spinal cord injuries fall into two category types, complete and incomplete. A complete injury is associated with the total loss of function below the level of injury. In such cases there is no sensation, nor voluntary movement below the level of injury. An incomplete injury is characterized by partial function below the level of injury. An individual suffering from incomplete paralysis can experience an array of symptoms including partial voluntary control, feeling in areas that cannot be controlled voluntarily, or the ability to control one side of the body and not the other.

How an individual’s body is affected by a spinal cord injury is generally dependent on the level of injury. Typically, the higher up a spinal injury occurs, the more widespread the effect on the body. Usually, cervical (neck) injuries result in quadriplegia, involving loss of function in both the upper and lower extremities. Injuries above the C-4 vertebrae may even require use of a ventilator to assist with breathing. C-5 injuries can result in retention of shoulder and upper arm control, but a lack of control in the lower arm and hands. C-7 injuries usually allow some level of control in the hand and fingers despite problems with dexterity.

Lower level spinal damage that occurs in the thoracic level and below can result in paraplegia. Paraplegia is generally associated with the loss of use of the legs. However, paraplegia can also result in a myriad of other conditions including: poor muscle control in the trunk, dysfunction of the bowel and bladder, sexual dysfunction, blood pressure problems, inability to properly regulate body temperature, and chronic pain.

Finally, spinal cord injuries can result as a consequence to admitted cervical thoracic and lumbar back injuries. Occasionally during surgery damage can result to he cord or main nerves. The resulting damage is also considered a work injury as long as the underlying treatment is work related. If you sustain a work related spinal cord injury, attorney Thomas Atkinson is ready to assist you provide you with advice and recommendations to assist you with your recovery. Workers compensation benefits including nursing services, reimbursement for family care, home remodeling and other benefits are reimbursable under Minnesota’s Workers Compensation statute. Contact Tom at 651-3224-9514 or tom@mndisability.com You can also visit his website at www.mndisability.com