3 Rare Effects Of A Neck And Back Injury

If you have sustained a neck or back injury as a result of a "slip and fall," or a motor vehicle accident, then you may have experienced pain, limited mobility, and perhaps, diminished range-of-motion. While these are the most common symptoms of a neck and back injury, you may notice other, less common, symptoms. If you experience any of the following, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible, and then consult with an attorney to determine if you should pursue legal action:

Incontinence 

Incontinence, either urinary or bowel, can be an uncommon result of a back injury, especially if your spinal cord is involved. Structures that innervate your bladder or bowel can sustain damage during an accident, and if you have suffered a crushing pelvic injury, you may be at a heightened risk for involuntary loss of urine or stool.

If you become incontinent as a result of your accident, see your physician as soon as possible. Your doctor may recommend extensive diagnostic tests, or may refer you to a neurologist, a specialist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

As your spine heals and nerve damage has been repaired, your pattern of elimination may return to normal. Your doctor may also recommend that you participate in an occupational or physical therapy program to help improve muscle and nerve function, which may also help improve bowel and bladder function. 

Loss Of Smell

One of your cranial nerves is known as the olfactory nerve. An uncommon result of a head, neck, or back injury is a condition known as post-traumatic olfactory loss. Severe whiplash or traumatic injuries can lead to inflammation or damage to your olfactory nerve, the cranial nerve that is responsible for your sense of taste.

When the olfactory nerve has been damaged, you may lose your sense of smell, and in some cases, your sense of taste. While nerve regeneration is possible, it may take many months, or even years. In some cases, nerve damage may be irreversible. If you lose your sense of smell as a result of an injury, consider consulting a neck and back injury attorney services firm.

Facial Burning

Another uncommon result of a neck or back injury may be related to another cranial nerve, known as the facial nerve. When the facial nerve is damaged or inflamed, you may experience odd sensations around your forehead, eye, cheek, or chin. People who have damaged facial nerves often complain of burning, pricking sensations, numbness, tingling, and pain.

If you experience any of these sensations following an injury, your doctor may prescribe medications that can help reduce your symptoms. In addition, he or she may recommend that you increase your dietary intake of B vitamins, which may play an important role in nerve regeneration.

If you are unable to tolerate foods rich in B vitamins, your physician may recommend that you take supplemental B vitamins. While vitamins may help improve your symptoms, do not take them until your healthcare provider has cleared you to do so. Supplements can interfere with certain prescription medications, and in cases where large doses are taken, neurological symptoms may actually worsen. 

If you experience any of the above uncommon symptoms of a neck or back injury as a result of a "slip and fall" or a motor vehicle accident, work with both your physician and your attorney. Working with these two professional disciplines will help you determine whether or not your injury qualifies you to pursue litigation. If you win your case, you may be entitled to a substantial monetary settlement for your pain, suffering, and your future medical expenses. 

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