Neck pain is extremely common, accounting for 21.4 million patient visits to doctors and ERs in 2013. With this prevalence and the wide variety of causes there is naturally an array of neck pain injury types. Most fall into two main categories and one subcategory: 

• Acute – short term, lasting a few days to weeks. Typically, this type is related to mechanical injuries, meaning it is caused by issues or disruptions in the way that the musculoskeletal and nervous systems in the neck, back, and spine work together.  
  • Subacute – specifically defined as pain lasting 4-12 weeks. 
• Chronic – longer term, specifically lasting 12 weeks or longer. It is also technically considered more persistent as it may continue past the treatment of the pain’s source or cause. Around 20-40% of those who suffer acute neck pain report a development into chronic neck pain at the one-year mark.  

The specific injuries to the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems which fall into the above categories have been identified and studied extensively by the medical community, though there is much farther to go before we have comprehensive and definitive understandings of these systems and the related pain. Neck pain can be caused by various other conditions and diseases, but the injuries most related to personal injury claims are those which are mechanical in nature (affecting the spine and its components, nerves and muscle). These are the types of injuries that often result from the causes and risks of the previous section (motor vehicle accident, workplace injury, etc.), and some particular examples include: 

• Sprains – very common for acute neck pain, caused by tearing or overstretching ligaments, usually through overexertion via twisting or heavy lifting 
• Strains – also very common for acute neck pain, with similar actions as the root cause, and are result of tearing in the muscle or tendon 
• Pinched nerve – compression of a nerve of the spinal cord in the neck area, resulting in pain travelling down arms. 
• Herniated or bulging or ruptured disc – related to compression and damage of the cartilaginous disks between the vertebrae, including displacement, bulging or rupture. Can result from overuse fatigue or impact injury. 
• Radiculopathy – inflammation, compression or injury to nerve root, sometimes from a herniated or ruptured disk. The resulting pressure causes tingling, numbness or pain out into the areas of the body related to that nerve.  
• Spondylolisthesis – occurs where a vertebra of the spine slips out of alignment, pinching nerves, causing pain and numbness. 
• Spinal stenosis – occurs where the spinal column narrows, putting pressure on the nerves and spinal cord, resulting in numbness or pain, and often more complicated sensory issues over time 
• Traumatic injury – loose category of damaged tendons, ligaments and/or muscle, often from the type of events named above, and resulting in pain, weakness, numbness, and other side effects. 

Symptoms & Complications of Neck Injuries

Please follow the advice of your doctor or medical advisor with any neck injury consult, particularly if you are experiencing, new, worsening, more severe symptoms and/or any of the complication warning signs that follow. Especially if you are experiencing muscle spasms or are unable to touch your chin to your chest due to neck pain and stiffness – consult a doctor immediately. Thompson Law’s ultimate desire for every case and claim is the fullest possible recovery and the best possible compensation. The chances of this success are much greater if you carefully follow the advice of medical professionals and your attorney. If you are in need of any advice or assistance on matters of your recovery and rightful compensation, feel free to reach out anytime, 24/7. Thompson Law legal experts are standing by to help you.  

SYMPTOMS OF A NECK INJURY 

• Stiffness, tightness, aches, pressure
• Muscle spasms
• Shooting pains in neck, sometimes down into shoulders and arms, or up into headaches
• Stabbing pains in neck, similar patterns as above
• Pain radiating outward in the body
• Pain that becomes worse with bending, lifting, sitting
• Pain that improves with reclining
• Secondary side effects – trouble sleeping, headaches, nausea, trouble focusing 

COMPLICATIONS & WARNING SIGNS OF NECK INJURIES 

• Fever
• Severe headache
• Bowel or bladder issues
• Pain does not improve with rest
• Area of pain spreads or increases
• Auxiliary injuries, i.e. a slipped disk causes a pinched nerve or muscle strain
• Weakness, tingling, numbness or other new / increased sensations begin
• Nerve damage
• Opioid pain medication dependence
• Depression, anxiety, trauma and insomnia

While there remain many mysteries to unravel about the nervous system and spine, diagnoses of neck injuries can often be successfully accomplished by utilizing available resources like physical examinations, medical history, and current technology. Some of the more frequently used types of tech and testing for these diagnostic investigations include: 

• X-Rays 
• Computerized tomography (CT) scans  
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs)  
• Supplemental technologies to these types of scans include myelograms and discography, which utilize ink injections into the spinal canal or into specific disks to more clearly articulate the extent of the damage on the resulting imagery.  
• Relatedly, bone scans involve a controlled amount of radioactive material being injected into the bloodstream. The body is then scanned for abnormal areas of blood-flow and irregular pooling delineated by the injection material.  
• For issues of the muscles, electrodiagnostics can be used to test stimulation of different nerves and muscles. Types of electrodiagnostics include: 
• Electromyography (EMG)  
• Evoked potential (EP) studies  
• Nerve conduction studies (NCS)  
• Testing for distinct responses with these procedures can help specialists determine the origin and severity of the injury at hand.  
• Ultrasound imaging also can show damage to muscle using sound wave mapping inside the body to create visualizations.  
• Blood tests are also used on occasion, largely to rule out types of infection, inflammation or other sources of pain.  

Fortunately, there are a number of therapies and treatments to cure, or at least significantly ease, acute and chronic neck pain. Because the spine and its related systems are so intertwined with other structures of the body, mobility improvements and decreased neck pain often lead to other positive side effects and life improvements.    

• Self / home care – alternating ice packs and heat packs, rest, recline, over the counter (OTC) pain relievers 
• Therapy – physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, behavioral therapy 
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) – electrodes are placed near the pain points, delivering relief via tiny electrical impulses.  
• Short-term immobilization – soft collar to rest muscles. 
• Traction – weights and pulleys apparatus gently stretches the neck, often targeted to relieve nerve root irritation. 
• Medication – including muscle relaxants, NSAIDs, and tricyclic antidepressants 
• Surgery – typically necessary for very severe cases where other treatments have not succeeded, relating to structural issues, i.e. spinal stenosis or slipped discs 
  • Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
  • Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement
  • Spinal Decompression
    • Anterior Cervical Corporectomy
    • Posterior Cervical Laminectomy
    • Posterior Cervical Laminoplasty
    • Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy
    • Cervical Laminectomy

Financial Impacts of Neck Injuries 

Financial costs of neck injury are extremely significant because chronic neck pain is the third most common chronic pain condition in the United States and fourth most common cause of disability globally. Medical expenses, missed work, insurance costs and more add up to astounding dollar figures on local and global scales. US costs associated with pain and pain management are estimated to be between $560 and $635 billion (in 2010 dollars), and 15% of reported pain is associated with the neck. This would mean neck pain in that year accounted for $84-$95.3 billion of the total.  

• More than 650,000 spinal surgical procedures are performed annually in the United States  
• The average hospital stay in the United States costs over $10,700, and the 7th most common reason for this type of stay is spinal problems including spondylosis and intervertebral disc disorders. 
• Between 1995 and 2005 there was a 65% increase in year-over-year costs related to chronic neck pain, with the total cost in the last year of the study totaling about $86 billion.  
• Cervical disorders made up the majority of neck pain related healthcare visits in 2013. And cervical disc disorders were responsible for just about a third (32%) of hospitalizations.  
• In an article from a Texas Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, the costs of spinal surgeries were illuminated – and jaw-dropping: 
  • Herniated Disc Procedures: $20,000 – $50,000 
  • Laminectomy for cervical spinal stenosis: $50,000 – $90,000 
  • Spinal Fusion for slipped vertebrae or spinal instability: $80,000 – $150,000+ 
  • These costs are for surgery alone, not including recovery time with lost wages, plus recovery equipment and medications, physical therapy, and more.  

In some cases, symptoms can be managed by home treatments to help with pain, discomfort, and disorientation. In others, doctors and chiropractors may prescribe specific medical treatments or therapies. Advised treatment is based on the severity of the neck damage, body composition and tolerances, age, health, prior or concurrent injuries, medications, and patient preferences.  

Standard recommendations for treatment across the medical community include: 

• Ice applications for the first 24 hours 
• Cervical collar, with limited use (less than 3 hours at a time)  
• Gentle, active movement after 24 hours 
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications 
• Muscle relaxing medications 
• Physical therapy 

Still, some disagreement exists in the medical community around whiplash, and particularly around the treatment that should take place in the first 24-48 hours after the injury is sustained. The core of the debate has to do with how much motion is advisable in this period. Some experts maintain a belief that wearing a soft collar and limiting movement protects the neck from further damage, while others suggest that some muscle movement is beneficial to a quicker and easier recovery. 

Fortunately, for most people whiplash pain is corrected or resolved within a couple weeks to a few months. Still, lingering pain may persist for longer. There is a lack of consensus in medical research as to the duration of symptoms and injury. Some studies have indicated that 25-40% of patients experience symptoms through the 1-year mark, and others indicate about 40% of patients experience pain past the 7-year mark. Around the measurables of these studies there are a lot of remaining questions about what patients can expect in their journey to recovery.  

Despite the ongoing scientific study, it is extremely important to trust the advice of your doctor and follow their guidance for your specific recovery, and it may be helpful to keep in mind that there is a chance that your injury may be more impactful and long lasting than initially anticipated. While you focus on your health, turn to your compassionate and expert legal team at Thompson Law. Ryan “The Lion” Thompson and his staff will fight the insurance companies and your accident’s at-fault parties for you. Their commitment to the optimum outcome and your maximum rightful compensation drives everything they do. Being patient with the recovery process and taking good care of yourself is essential.  

Financial Impacts of Neck Injuries 

Financial costs of neck injury are extremely significant because chronic neck pain is the third most common chronic pain condition in the United States and fourth most common cause of disability globally. Medical expenses, missed work, insurance costs and more add up to astounding dollar figures on local and global scales. US costs associated with pain and pain management are estimated to be between $560 and $635 billion (in 2010 dollars), and 15% of reported pain is associated with the neck. This would mean neck pain in that year accounted for $84-$95.3 billion of the total.  

• More than 650,000 spinal surgical procedures are performed annually in the United States  
• The average hospital stay in the United States costs over $10,700, and the 7th most common reason for this type of stay is spinal problems including spondylosis and intervertebral disc disorders. 
• Between 1995 and 2005 there was a 65% increase in year-over-year costs related to chronic neck pain, with the total cost in the last year of the study totaling about $86 billion.  
• Cervical disorders made up the majority of neck pain related healthcare visits in 2013. And cervical disc disorders were responsible for just about a third (32%) of hospitalizations.  
• In an article from a Texas Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, the costs of spinal surgeries were illuminated – and jaw-dropping: 
  • Herniated Disc Procedures: $20,000 – $50,000 
  • Laminectomy for cervical spinal stenosis: $50,000 – $90,000 
  • Spinal Fusion for slipped vertebrae or spinal instability: $80,000 – $150,000+ 
  • These costs are for surgery alone, not including recovery time with lost wages, plus recovery equipment and medications, physical therapy, and more.  

Have you suffered a neck injury from an automobile, slip & fall, workplace, occupational, or other type of accident? Thompson Law deeply understands the frustrating, expensive, and highly painful implications that these injuries can have on your body and your life. Our expert legal consultants are standing by 24/7 to speak with you about your accident and resulting injuries.  

When you reach out to Thompson Law firm following your neck injury accident, your accomplished attorney and team will guide you every step of the way through the claim and case process. They will carefully investigate every detail of the events surrounding your injury. Armed with the best information, your tenacious team will fight for every penny of your rightful compensation and the very best possible settlement. 

Our results speak for themselves, and our passion to seek justice for our clients is limitless. According to TopVerdict, Thompson Law won 10 of the top 50 settlements in Texas in 2020, including the 2nd and 3rd largest personal injury settlements in the State. We can help you, too. 

Suffering a traumatic neck injury after a serious accident can make a full-time job of recovery and healing. Take care, really focus on your health, and leave the hard work of battling those at-fault and the insurance companies to your trusted lawyer at Thompson Law.  

Expert Neck Injury Attorney – Legal Consultations Start Right Here or Right Here at 844-308-8180

Don’t hesitate, state law limits your time to file a claim, and you deserve help right away.