Addressing Medical-Legal Issues After an Accident: A Doctor’s Insight on Permanent Disability

When you are injured in an accident, you need to see a doctor immediately. Many injuries will worsen if they go untreated. Identify the medical-legal issues to be addressed and request that the doctor comment on each. This will include PD (permanent disability), apportionment, causation and future treatment. This will provide the best documentation for your injury.

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when you’re jolted in an accident, such as being rear-ended in a car crash. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness and headaches. Other symptoms may be numbness and “pins and needles” in the arms or hands, difficulty swallowing or blurred vision.

The severity of your symptoms will determine what treatment you need. For mild cases, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants should ease the pain. In more severe cases, physical therapy, chiropractic treatments and acupuncture can help. If the symptoms persist, your doctor may prescribe a cervical collar. Other treatment options include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and massage. A mind-body technique such as tai chi or qigong can also relieve pain and increase flexibility.

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work, medical visits and overall health care costs. Almost half of all Americans experience back symptoms each year.

A herniated or bulging disc can put pressure on spinal nerves that exit the spine. This can cause numbness, weakness or pain in the arms and legs. This is called radiculopathy.

Chronic sprains in the muscles of the neck and upper back (levator muscle/rhomboid muscle strain) can also cause severe pain. This can be caused by sitting for long periods of time or from repetitive sedentary activities.

If at-home treatment fails to improve your back pain, you may be a candidate for spinal cord stimulation (SCS). SCS involves placing electrodes in the epidural space of the spine and delivering electrical pulses that disrupt pain signals.

The neck (cervical spine) is a complex network of nerves, bones and joints that allow us to move our heads and bodies. It’s also a common area of injury and pain.

The vertebrae in the neck can be sprained or strained by sudden jerking movements (like those in car accidents and hard falls) or irritated by herniated discs. The ligaments and muscles can also become tight or strained.

Neck pain that doesn’t go away with home care and over-the-counter medications may be a sign of an underlying problem like arthritis or spinal stenosis, where the bones in the neck narrow, compressing the spinal cord and nerves as they exit the vertebrae. Chronic neck pain can also be caused by poor posture, sleeping on the wrong pillow or stress.

Headaches are the result of a complex mix of signals from blood vessels, muscles and nerves. These signals send pain signals to the brain. Some headaches can be a warning sign of a serious illness, such as a stroke or cancer.

A musculoskeletal headache is caused by tight muscles in the neck or spine, and can be the result of a neck injury like whiplash. It can also be a result of emotional tension. These headaches are characterized by agonizing pain felt in the head, face, neck and shoulders.

Migraines are a type of chronic headache. They are typically severe, pulsating, and one-sided. They may be accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and other symptoms. Prevention of migraines includes stretching throughout the day, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, eating well, and getting enough sleep.

Painful joints are usually a sign of damage or a long-lasting problem like arthritis. Severe joint pain affects adults of all ages and both sexes. Injuries, medical conditions, and standard wear and tear can cause joint pain. Injuries often result from repetitive movements (like throwing a baseball over and over) or a heavy load on the joint (like lifting a box).

Over-the-counter or prescription analgesics are usually effective at reducing pain caused by arthritis. These include acetaminophen and NSAIDs. Other treatments include hyaluronic acid injections, which help relieve painful osteoarthritis; and prolotherapy, which stimulates the body to rebuild and strengthen injured tendons and ligaments. This treatment is also called platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy. It works well for knee and hip pain. It also helps treat chronic shoulder and neck pain.

Coping with pain caused by injuries can present difficulties and make you feel alone, but you don’t have to handle it by yourself. At our Los Angeles Injury Doctor sports medicine clinic in Los Angeles, we have a caring team committed to assisting you in conquering your pain and restoring your overall well-being. We recognize the significance of locating the appropriate injury doctor for your needs.