Nerve damage is a serious problem that can cause a lot of issues with a person’s quality of life. Whether it arises due to an accident, repetitive strain, or a medical mistake, its effects can range from mild discomfort to a complete loss of function in the affected areas.
In Las Vegas, where thousands of people are hurt in accidents every year, nerve damage is a common yet often misunderstood outcome. If you’re considering legal action after a situation that has damaged your nerves, it helps to understand the treatment options and what you can do to be compensated for costs related to your injury.
What Is Nerve Damage?
The human nervous system is a complicated network that controls every function in the body. It’s split into two main parts: the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (all the nerves that branch out from the spine to the rest of the body).
Nerve damage, also called neuropathy, occurs when these nerves are impaired or injured. More often than not, it leads to pain, weakness, or loss of sensation in the affected area of the body.
Nerve damage can be classified into three main types:
- Motor: Affects movement and muscle control
- Sensory: Hinders the ability to feel sensations like pain, temperature, and touch
- Autonomic: Disrupts the body’s automatic functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion
Damage to the nerves can severely impact a person’s daily life and limit their ability to do basic tasks and enjoy their usual activities. The type of damage dictates the best course of treatment to manage its effects.
What Are the Common Causes of Nerve Damage?
Nerve damage can result from just about any type of injury or medical condition. Certain situations are seen more often in Las Vegas than others.
Car Accidents
Las Vegas is a busy city with lots of heavy traffic, so car crashes are common. When a person is in a serious accident, the sudden impact can cause direct trauma to nerves or the spine, leading to long-term or even permanent damage.
Depending on the nature and severity of the collision, nerve damage can manifest as whiplash, a spinal injury, or damage to the peripheral nerves. Victims could experience chronic pain, limited mobility, or impaired function in the affected areas.
Slips and Falls
Slips and falls are often seen in places like casinos, restaurants, and hotels. If a fall causes trauma to a specific area of the body, it can result in nerve damage. Injuries to the neck, back, and limbs, for example, can compress or sever nerves and lead to lasting problems.
Such accidents tend to be caused by wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poor property maintenance. Victims are likely to end up with pain, numbness, or tingling sensations.
Workplace Injuries
Nerve damage is also a risk for people who work in physically demanding jobs like construction, manufacturing, and transportation, all of which are prominent industries in Las Vegas. Repetitive motions, heavy lifting, and exposure to hazardous chemicals can lead to conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or alternative forms of nerve compression.
Other workplace accidents, such as falling from high places or being struck by heavy objects, can also end in nerve damage. These scenarios could leave workers unable to do their jobs properly or even at all.
Medical Malpractice
In some cases, nerve damage can stem from a medical mistake, often during surgery or a shot that wasn’t administered properly. When a nerve is accidentally severed or compressed during a procedure, the patient might end up with long-term pain, numbness, or loss of function in the affected area.
Medical malpractice cases can be a challenge when they involve damage to the nerves. They frequently require extensive evidence and expert testimony that can help prove negligence on the part of the healthcare provider.
Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options For Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the location and severity of the injury. Less severe trauma can be very subtle, so it’s important to recognize the signs early so that you can get it treated to avoid further complications.
Common symptoms include:
- Tingling or Numbness: Often in the hands or feet
- Sharp or Burning Pain: Can be constant or intermittent
- Muscle Weakness: Makes it more difficult to do everyday activities like walking, lifting, or even writing
- Sensitivity to Touch: Overly sensitive to even light pressure or physical contact
- Loss of Coordination: Can lead to balance problems and increase the risk of falling
- Paralysis: Could be partial or complete and prevents any voluntary movement
If you suspect that you might have nerve damage, you’ll want to have it looked at by a doctor as soon as possible. They’ll do a physical exam and review your medical history. They might also perform some diagnostic tests, like an electromyography, which evaluates the electrical activity in your muscles to determine whether there’s any damage to the motor nerves.
How Can You Treat Nerve Damage?
Treatment will depend on the exact nature of the injury, but it often involves a combination of therapies to relieve symptoms and promote nerve regeneration.
Common treatments include:
- Medication (pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, anticonvulsants, etc.)
- Physical therapy to improve strength, flexibility, and coordination
- Surgery to repair or relieve pressure on a damaged nerve
- Lifestyle changes, like managing related conditions such as diabetes, to prevent future complications
Managing nerve damage might also require a long-term approach, such as regular monitoring and follow-up appointments. The idea behind these is to check your healing progress so that adjustments can be made if needed.
Some people find relief for chronic symptoms through more mindful treatments, like meditation, stress management, and ergonomic adjustments at work and home. Recovery varies from person to person. Some people make a full recovery, while others might have to adapt to permanent changes.
What Are the Potential Legal Options For Nerve Damage Victims in Nevada?
If you’ve suffered from nerve damage in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Nevada law allows victims to file lawsuits and pursue claims for medical costs, lost wages (both current and future), pain and suffering, and permanent disability.
To improve your chances of winning your case, you’ll need to collect as much evidence as possible to prove the other party’s liability. Medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert testimony can all help strengthen your claim and give you the best chance at recovering your costs.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm For Help Today
If you’re dealing with nerve damage and someone else is responsible, contact De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers at (702) 222-9999. Our Las Vegas chest injury lawyers are available for a free consultation.