San Diego Brachial Plexus Injury Lawyer

A brachial plexus is the nerve group that runs from the spine into your hands. The group has five nerves, each controlling a particular area and its capabilities. These start in the nerve roots in the neck (cervical) and shoulder (thoracic) areas of the spine and go through the arms. They are responsible for movement and sensation in these parts. 

Brachial plexus injuries vary in their occurrence. They often occur as an injury in adulthood but are equally known as birth injuries. A brachial plexus injury can be mild or severe and cause minor issues or complete loss of use of the affected area. Medical malpractice and surgical errors can cause damage to these nerves, as can car accidents or contact sports.

If you experience difficulty with sensation or movement in your arm or shoulders following an accident, you should see a medical professional to see if you have a brachial plexus injury. Getting a doctor’s diagnosis is vital to get compensated for any potential losses your injury may cause. After a diagnosis, contact a personal injury lawyer from Mova Law Group, and we can help you file a claim. Contact us through this website or call us at (858) 900-9911 to set up a free case evaluation.

Brachial plexus injuries vary in severity, and the nerve damage determines to which category an injury belongs.

• The most common brachial plexus injury is either compression or stretching of the nerves.
• Compression of the nerve root in the neck occurs more often in older adults.
• Traction neuropraxia involves stretching the nerves downwards. This type occurs most frequently in younger adults and adolescents.
• They are called “burners” or “stingers” in reference to the pain. You may experience flashes or a lingering sensation, or numbness. Discomfort may last less than a day or occur over a more extended period, depending on the severity of the injury.
• They are commonly caused by contact sports, particularly football or wrestling.

• Results from the nerves being partially or fully ripped.
• Much more painful and severe than neuropraxia. You may experience movement difficulty or muscle weakness in the arm.

• Often referred to as a “pinched nerve.
• Scar tissue forms following an injury to the brachial plexus. This tissue forms knots and can cause pinching pain down your upper extremities, all in an attempt by the body to fix itself.
• Surgery may be necessary to fix this condition, and steps may be taken to prevent another neuroma. For example, the neurosurgeon may do a nerve graft to connect the damaged nerve to another.

• Often referred to as a “pinched nerve.
• Scar tissue forms following an injury to the brachial plexus. This tissue forms knots and can cause pinching pain down your upper extremities, all in an attempt by the body to fix itself.
• Surgery may be necessary to fix this condition, and steps may be taken to prevent another neuroma. For example, the neurosurgeon may do a nerve graft to connect the damaged nerve to another.

• Most severe brachial plexus injury. An avulsion occurs when the nerve root entirely severs from the spinal column.
• Avulsions are a result of physical trauma.
• No perfect fix for this injury and the effects will be permanent (weakness, sensation issues, possible paralysis)—surgery is often the only option for improvement.

• Contact sports, especially wrestling, and football, for the potential compression or stretching. Athletes often feel “burners” and “stingers.”
• Birth injuries – Newborns can experience brachial plexus birth injuries. The likelihood of this injury depends on the labor’s complexity and the baby’s positioning. The baby’s shoulders can get stuck, causing stretching and compression. A healthcare provider may recklessly attempt to extract the baby through various means (forceps, vacuum) and cause damage to the baby’s upper nerves.
  • Erb’s palsy is the most common brachial plexus birth injury, affects over 12,000 babies born yearly, and involves a weakness in the injured area. A baby can recover from this palsy and usually does within their first year of life (over 86% of pediatric patients).
  • Brachial plexus palsy results in weakness in the shoulders, affecting the movement of the arm to meet the mouth for eating.
• Physical trauma includes car accidents, gunshot wounds, spinal cord injuries, and severe falls.
• Cancer – Tumors can grow on the brachial plexus network and cause compression, stretching, or harm. Treatment of the tumors by radiation can be just as harsh on the nerves.

If you or your child have experienced movement or sensation issues in your shoulders or arms, a San Diego personal injury attorney can help. If another person caused your injuries, they could be found liable, and our legal team can assist you in recouping some of your medical costs.

You must seek medical attention for brachial plexus injuries to prevent permanent nerve damage. See a doctor if you experience one or more of the following: 

• Recurring “burners” and “stingers,” or those lasting over time.
• Weakness in the arm or hand. It is imperative to see the doctor if both arms experience weakness.
• Neck pain.

A medical record of your injuries helps build your personal injury case in the aftermath of an accident. Our team of personal injury lawyers can also connect you with top medical professionals if needed.

Doctors can diagnose brachial plexus injuries in a few different ways:

• X-rays help rule out broken bones as the root cause of your pain. X-rays can also highlight possible lung damage resulting from damaged nerves in this organ.
• A CT scan or MRI can identify avulsions.
• Electromyography (EMG) looks at muscle and nerve functioning. These tests help establish a baseline for your muscles and identify the problems.

The preferred treatment method for brachial plexus injuries is time. Still, you may have to consider other options if waiting will hinder recovery. It’s natural to want to avoid surgery, especially if a surgical error or medical malpractice caused the initial injury. However, it may be your best option, so consult a doctor for suggestions.

An expert brachial plexus injury lawyer may recommend the following:

• Physical Therapy – Exercises improving the range of motion and flexibility in stiff muscles and joints may be a part of physical therapy to restore arm and hand function.
• Corticosteroid Creams or Injections – For pain management and quicker healing.
• Assistive Devices – A brace, a splint, or compression sleeves can help speed recovery.
• Medication – Pain management.
• Occupational Therapist – Patients with severe muscle weakness, numbness, and pain will need occupational therapy to re-learn practical skills such as dressing and cooking.

In cases where the injuries to the brachial plexus fail to heal on their own, they may require surgery to repair the damage. Brachial plexus surgery produces results gradually, so it may take months or years for patients to see a noticeable change.

To optimize nerve recovery, it is best to have brachial plexus surgery within six months of an injury. You may need to decide between surgery and taking time to recover naturally. Your neurosurgeon might prescribe the following reconstructive procedures:

• Nerve Repair – Putting a torn nerve back together.
• Neurolysis – To improve the function of the injured nerve, the neurosurgeon slashes the nerves to remove scar tissue.
• Nerve Grafts – A nerve graft is another way to treat severe brachial plexus injuries. Nerve grafting connects the ends of a damaged nerve with a healthy nerve from another area of the body to guide the healing process.
• Nerve Transfers – The nerve transfer process attaches a less critical but still functional nerve to a damaged nerve, thus creating a framework for new nerve growth.
• Tendon & Muscle Transfer – The surgeon may transfer a tendon or muscle from one part of the body to another to restore normal function. 

Consult your healthcare provider for help deciding whether surgery is right for you. For newborns with birth injuries or individuals with neurological challenges, it may be best to allow time to resolve your injuries and avoid further damage. Mova Law Group’s experienced personal injury lawyers will review your medical records and accident evidence with you and provide you with your legal options.

The results of a brachial plexus injury are sometimes far-reaching in your life. Costs add up for more severe and long-term injuries, and you can risk bankruptcy. A personal injury attorney from San Diego‘s top-rated Mova Law Group can examine the evidence from your case. We will help determine whether you have a liable case against a doctor or other individual responsible for your pain.

Experienced injury lawyers can estimate the economic and non-economic costs of your injury. These costs may include the following:

• Medical bills (past and future).
• Decreased or lost wages (including into the future).
• Pain and suffering.
• Occupational therapy.
• Pain and suffering.
• Loss of quality and enjoyment of life.

Our initial case evaluation is of no charge to you so that you can discuss your case with no obligation. We will work with you on a contingency fee plan if we take your injury case. You will only pay once we get your maximum compensation. Our top-rated brachial plexus injury attorneys will advance your personal injury claim and handle negotiations. At the same time, you focus on the important business of recovery. Contact us today to set up your free consultation at (858) 900-9911 or through this website.