Neck and Back Pain
Many of us suffer from neck and back pain, even if we’ve never been seriously injured. It is simply a fact of life that, as we get older, our bodies don’t work quite as well and we start getting aches and pains. This is especially true in the spine, where bundles of important nerves run through tiny openings between our vertebrates. These nerves carry all sorts of signals, including pain signals, and if the space between the vertebrates starts to collapse, either due to age or injury, we start to feel pain.
Neck and back pain, even if it is chronic, is often not disabling for people. Lots of folks go to a chiropractor, see their doctor and take over-the-counter pain killers on occasion, go to physical therapy and maintain with home exercise and stretching routines. However, if a person has any history of this type of treatment, and then suffers a serious auto or work injury which exacerbates their neck or back pain, it can spell real problems relative to getting paid just compensation by the insurance company. Insurance carriers love to deny claims due to “pre-existing conditions,” and since so many people have chronic neck and back pain, this is a common defense for them.
So how can we prove that an injured person really suffered an exacerbation of their neck and back pain versus just experiencing a natural progression of the aging process. Well, like with so many other issues when it comes to personal injury, the medical records tell the story. Early and immediate reporting of exactly when and exactly how you got hurt is hugely important. This needs to be reported to your doctor, your insurance carrier, and your employer if the injury happened at work. Also, don’t hide from your history of neck or back pain. Many people make the mistake of thinking they should hide this history, and it only makes them look like liars when their case goes to trial. The worst thing an injured claimant can do is to damage his or her own credibility with the judge or jury. Finally, be specific about the nature of your pain and how it has changed since the injury—I’m talking about the location of the pain, the feeling it gives you (e.g. burning versus aching, sharp versus dull), the frequency of the pain, what sort of activities and medications help make it better or worse, etc., etc.
If all of these factors are well-documented, your doctors will see you as an honest person, and they will support you. If your doctors support you, you are well on your way to making a successful claim, or winning in court if your claim is denied. Also, documenting all of these issues makes you look honest to the defense attorney, the judge, the jury, and even the insurance company (though they might hesitate to admit it). Most people, if given the opportunity, want to help out an honest person who is hurting, so if you are forthright from the very start, you stand a good chance of winning in the end.
Want to know more about dealing with neck and back injuries, either in the car or on the job? Call our office and see if you qualify for a consultation.
