You never want to learn that you have suffered a spine injury, as this can change your life in a number of ways. For example, the most serious type of spine injury could result in paralysis.
Even if you have reason to believe you’ll never injure your spine, you don’t know what could happen in the future. This is why you need to become familiar with the primary signs of an injury:
- Severe back pain and discomfort that worsens when you attempt to move
- Inability to move your legs and/or arms
- Tingling, numbness or weakness in your legs, back and/or buttocks
- A loss of consciousness following an accident, such as a motor vehicle crash
- Stiffness, pain and discomfort in your neck and other body parts
There is no way of knowing the extent of a spine injury until you receive medical attention. For this reason, it’s imperative that you seek medical care if you have any reason to believe something is wrong. If you don’t, and instead attempt to treat the injury on your own, it could lead to a more serious concern.
Once you are diagnosed by a qualified medical professional, you’ll have a better idea of what’s going on and how to treat your injury in the future.
If you suffered your spine injury on the job and are unable to return to work, you shouldn’t hesitate to learn more about your legal rights. You may be able to file a claim for ‘ benefits, which can provide you with money to get by during your recovery.
Source: Premier Orthopaedics, “Five Signs of a Spine Injury,” accessed March 14, 2018
