After a car accident, it’s relatively common for a person to experience some neck or back pain. After evaluation by a physician along with X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging, the person could be diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. Attorneys with Injury Law Firms near Wilkes Barre PA know that trauma to the spinal area can trigger the first symptoms of this disease, but insurance companies tend to deny these claims, stating that the disorder was a pre-existing condition and not caused by the accident.
About the Disease
Degenerative disc disease causes the cushioning gel-filled discs between spinal bones to lose fluid and thickness. That can allow vertebrae to rub against nerves and cause pain. This also makes it easier for a disc to slip out of place, which also tends to be painful.
The Legal Case
A lawyer with an organization such as The Law Office of Robert D. Elias can make the case that the disorder might never have progressed to the point where it would cause chronic pain. If the individual had never sought treatment for back pain before, this is especially relevant. Visit the website to find out more about this particular attorney.
Even if the injured person had previously been a patient of a chiropractor or had been examined by a physician for back pain, a case could be made that the accident worsened the pre-existing condition. Authoritative medical websites confirm that degenerative disc disease pain may never begin until a physically traumatic experience occurs.
Medical Records and Opinions
Attorneys with Injury Law Firms near Wilkes Barre PA will need all the patient’s medical records since the accident and any pertaining to back pain before the collision. The person’s medical doctor and an independent doctor may concur that degenerative disc disease was aggravated by the incident.
Treatment
The person should receive financial compensation for medical care and future surgery, if that becomes advisable. Physical therapy can strengthen the back and make it more flexible. The lawyer may also ask for compensation for chiropractic treatment. Spinal traction performed in chiropractic clinics can be very helpful for coaxing herniated discs back into place. You can also visit them on Google My Business.
