Serious issues that may accompany neck pain

Neck pain can have many causes. You’ve probably experienced it when you slept awkwardly and woke up unable to even turn your head to the side. That type of pain tends to fade after a day or two.

However, it can be far more serious, especially if you’re involved in a traumatic incident in the workplace, such as a fall from a ladder or a car accident. A neck injury is never anything you want to take lightly, as it can point to spinal cord injuries and even potential paralysis.

Do you need a doctor?

How do you know if you should see a doctor? As a rule of thumb, you always want to visit a medical professional to get checked out after a significant workplace accident. Even if you feel fine, you may find that adrenaline has hidden serious symptoms. Having a doctor look you over gives you peace of mind and identifies issues as soon as possible.

That said, some of the more serious symptoms you may experience along with your acute neck pain include:

• Repeated headaches
• General dizziness
• Numbness, pain or a tingling feeling that moves lower than your neck, extending into your hands, your arms or your shoulders
• Pronounced weakness in the areas noted above
• A sense of instability in your neck along with the pain
• Issues with your vision
• An increased sensitivity that makes it difficult to face bright lights
• Problems moving your hands properly and a decrease in finger dexterity
• Issues with bowel and bladder control after the accident
• A feeling that you cannot keep your balance
• Different types of gait disturbances when walking or running

All of these symptoms could mean that something is seriously wrong. You may have injured your spinal cord and not just the muscles in your neck. You could find yourself facing significant nerve damage.

If so, these are the types of injuries that can change your life. In the worst cases, you could face paralysis. Do not take any chances. Even if your injuries are not that extensive yet, you may aggravate the injury if you’re not careful.

Moving forward

If you do end up with this type of life-changing injury, it’s important to know what options you have moving forward. What type of immediate treatment do you need? What type of rehab options do you have? What type of recovery do the doctors predict? Will you fully recover or could you deal with symptoms like pain and weakness on a long-term basis? Every injury case is different. Find out where you stand.

At the same time, since the issue stemmed from a workplace accident, make sure you know what legal rights you have in Colorado.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn