Houston Back & Spine Injury Attorney
Call an Experienced Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer in Houston, TX
Accidents occur every day, in every state, county, city and town in our country. While many accidents do not result in death or serious injury, other accidents dramatically affect victims for the remainder of their lives. Back injuries involving disc herniation may result from a variety of accident types auto, construction site, slip and fall, and others.
The spine is composed of vertebrae, or bones, with discs in between. The discs are shaped liked donuts with a hard cartilage that surrounds a soft jelly like inner material. Facet joints between the vertebrae allow movement. The spinal cord traverses thru the vertebrae and discs and nerves branch from the cord to the legs and arms. The upper spine called the cervical region controls the muscles and sensation to the arms and hands. The lower region controls the legs and feet. Often the disc is herniated or ruptured during an auto collision which pinches the nerves that exit the spinal column causing pain in the extremities. Other times the facet joints are injured. Joe Stephens knows medical professionals such as orthopedics, neurologists, and pain management doctors who can help reduce or eliminate the pain that a car wreck has caused.
What Are the Most Common Serious Back Injuries Involving Lawsuits?
Cronic Inflammtion
Fractures
Whiplash
Herniated Discs
Stenosis
Scoliosis
Medical Accidents
Compression Fracture
Vertebral Fracture
Helping Victims of Back Injuries Get the Compensation They Need
Let's look deeper at the anatomy of the spine.
The human spine consists of three distinct areas of the cervical spine (neck region), thoracic spine (middle portion of the spine) and lumbar (lower) spine. The bony portions of the spine called vertebra. The cervical spine is comprised of seven vertebra which begin at the base of the skull and conclude in the neck area, at the top of the ribcage. The thoracic spine consists of twelve vertebra, which correspond to the twelve ribs comprising the rib cage. Finally, the lumbar spine contains five vertebra, which make up the lower back and terminate at the sacrum, just above the tailbone, or coccyx. It is the lumbar spine that is responsible for carrying most of the weight of the body, balancing the torso on the sacrum.
The vertebra that form the spine likewise form a canal through which the spinal cord passes. The spinal cord and the brain form the body’s central nervous system. The series of nerves that comprise the spinal cord pass through the vertebral column and branch out into the body, passing through portions of the vertebra called transverse process and vertebral foramen.
The vertebra of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are separated by intervertebral membranes called “discs.” These intervertebral discs, which serve as the shock absorber for the spine, are comprised of soft, rubbery tissue that is surrounded by a tough, outer layer called the annulus. Pressure upon the spine (and therefore the intervertebral discs), whether by natural or other, traumatic forces, can cause spine injury. Such an injury often causes a disc to bulge and then rupture, or “herniate.” Trauma to the spine can cause the annulus to rip or tear, allowing disc tissue to protrude and touch the nerves of the spinal cord that pass through the vertebra and into the body. The impact between disc tissue and nerve root can cause great pain and discomfort, often resulting in painful, tingling sensations into the arms or legs. Herniation disc injury can result in significantly diminished range of motion, extreme pain and substantial disability. While many herniated discs ultimately resolve without surgical intervention, others require surgery.
Disc surgery can entail substantial risks, including paralysis.
Events resulting in spinal cord injury are often the subject of litigation. To protect your legal rights following a traumatic event resulting in such an injury, it is generally wise to obtain legal advice from an attorney who is experienced in such matters. An experienced personal injury attorney in Houston can help “level the playing field” by providing accident victims with information regarding the practical and legal aspects of personal injury law.
Let Our Firm Help You & Your Family Move Forward
If you or a loved one suffered a serious back or spinal cord injury due to negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of wages and more. Personal injury attorney Joe Stephens knows what it takes to win these cases. He will work with a team of attorneys and expert witnesses including doctors, nurses, specialists, and investigators who specialize in discovering negligence. Let our law firm fight on your behalf so you and your family can live a normal life.