It is common to experience neck and back pain following a motor vehicle collision. Sometimes this pain subsides on its own, but many accident victims require extensive treatment in order to achieve a full recovery.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, effective treatments for back pain caused by trauma include physical therapy, medication, spinal manipulation, biofeedback, epidural steroid injections, and in severe cases, surgery. Some back surgeries are more invasive than others, but they all require time off work in order to heal.
If you sustained a serious back injury in a car accident and you want to recover compensation for your medical bills and lost wages, contact the Robson Law Firm. We have been representing the injured for more than two decades. Call 512-345-8200 to schedule a free case evaluation with an Austin personal injury lawyer.
Read on to learn about some of the most common kinds of surgery used to treat back pain following a collision:
- Discectomy
A discectomy is a surgical procedure that removes herniated discs in the lumbar region. During this procedure, surgeons use a special microscope to examine the discs and surrounding nerves before removing the affected vertebra.
Your doctor may recommend a discectomy if you are suffering from leg pain, weakness, or numbness that is affecting your everyday life and does not subside after one month of nonsurgical treatment.
- Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is a major surgery that lasts for several hours. During this procedure, a surgeon will use either a metal implant or actual bone from the pelvic bone or a bone bank to bridge adjacent vertebrae, so a new bone can grow between them. A spinal fusion can treat all kinds of traumatic injuries and conditions, including herniated discs and spinal stenosis.
- Vertebroplasty
If you fractured a vertebra in the collision, your doctor may recommend vertebroplasty. During this procedure, your surgeon will stabilize the spinal fracture by injecting the affected vertebra with special medical-grade cement. This procedure can restore your mobility and relieve back pain stemming from the fracture.
- Kyphoplasty
Kyphoplasty is similar to vertebroplasty, but instead of injecting bone cement into the bone, your doctor injects a medical-grade balloon into the damaged vertebra. Once the balloon has been inflated, the surgeon fills it with bone cement and then removes the balloon, leaving the cement.
- Laminotomy
A laminotomy is a surgical procedure that can treat compressed nerves in the spinal canal. During this surgery, doctors remove some or all of the lamina to relieve pressure. A laminotomy can treat all kinds of conditions that cause nerve compression, including pinched nerves, herniated discs, and spinal stenosis.
If you sustained a severe back injury in a collision with a reckless driver, contact the Robson Law Firm. We can evaluate your accident to determine if you have valid grounds for a lawsuit.
Call 512-345-8200 to schedule a free consultation with an accident attorney in Austin. If you want to learn more about car accident claims in Texas, visit the USAttorneys website.