Other Neck & Back Injuries

The attorneys at Bohn & Bohn, LLP have years of experience representing victims of personal injury throughout California who have received a spinal cord injury due to the negligence or wrongful acts of another, whether in an automobile accident or from a defective product or fall on unsafe premises.  Besides paraplegia and quadriplegia, there are other types of injuries which may result from a spinal injury which can be quite painful and debilitating and require extensive surgery and years of therapy to repair.

Herniated Disk (Disc)

The bones of the spine are not stacked directly on top of one another, but instead are cushioned by disks of cartilage.  These disks prevent the bones from grinding against one another, which would cause pain and lead to fractures or chipping. 

A hernia in medical terms describes the protrusion of an organ or tissue through a rupture, tear or opening in the muscle wall surrounding it.  When a disk is said to be herniated, a portion of the inner layer of the disk pushes through a rupture in the outer layer.  A herniated disk is also called a ruptured disk, or sometimes a slipped disk.  Pressure of the vertebrae on a herniated disk can be very painful and drastically limit mobility.  If the part of the disk which is protruding presses against the nerves in the spinal cord, it can cause numbness or paralysis in parts of the body.

Sometimes a herniated disk will respond to treatment such as steroids and other medications and physical therapy.  In other cases, surgery is required to remove the disk.  Despite advancements in surgical techniques, open back surgery is still sometimes required, involving a lengthy and painful period of recuperation

A herniated disk can also cause cauda equina syndrome, which results from compression on the bundle of nerves in the sacral region below the spinal cord.  If left untreated, cauda equina syndrome can result in permanent paralysis of the legs and loss of bowel and bladder control.  However, unlike true paraplegia, decompression of the nerves through repair of the herniated disk may often relieve the syndrome and restore feeling and function to the affected nerves.

Fractures

Fractured vertebrae are not uncommon and can cause intense pain and serious complications.  The spine contains many pedicles which extend to the sides and toward the back.  These pieces and projections are susceptible to fracture in a fall or automobile accident, particularly in the neck area, where bones are thinner to provide more flexibility.  A complete break can cause bone fragments to press upon the spinal cord, leading to temporary or even permanent paralysis. 

The terms "broken back" and "broken neck" can be used to describe fractured or dislocated vertebrae and may or may not include paralysis, depending upon whether the spinal cord has become cut, severed, or bruised.

Seek Experienced Representation

The attorneys at Bohn & Bohn, LLP have had a wealth of successes obtaining settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients who suffered neck and back injuries.  We take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we charge no fee unless - and until - we recover successfully on your behalf.  Feel free to contact our firm for a no-cost consultation about your claim.