Vancouver, WA Nerve Damage Lawyers
Experienced representation in Vancouver, Battle Ground, and across Washington
Nerve pain can occur due to vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, product defects, and many other causes. Severe nerve damage can cause chronic pain, depression, an inability to function, and an inability to work. At Philbrook Law Offices, we’ve been handling personal injury claims for more than 20 years. We’re skilled at showing who is responsible for your nerve damage injuries and obtaining full compensation from liable defendants. To discuss your right to compensation, call our Vancouver, WA nerve damage lawyers today.
Quick Questions
- What does nerve damage mean?
- What kinds of Vancouver, WA accidents cause damaged nerves?
- What are the signs and symptoms of nerve damage?
- How do doctors diagnose if I have nerve damage in Vancouver, WA?
- What are the treatments for nerve damage?
- What is the value of my nerve damage claim in Washington state?
- Do you have a nerve damage lawyer near me?
What does nerve damage mean?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nerve pain (also called neuropathic pain) occurs when your nervous system malfunctions. Your nervous system includes your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), and peripheral nerves. The peripheral nerves include the nerves in your arms, legs, fingers, toes, muscles, organs, and the rest of your body. Each nerve in the peripheral nervous system has a specific job. When nerves are damaged, the nerve fibers fail to communicate properly with your body’s pain centers.
What kinds of Vancouver, WA accidents cause damaged nerves?
At Philbrook Law Offices, we handle many of the traumatic causes of nerve damage. Traumatic nerve damage includes cuts, bruises, tears, and other forceful injuries – as compared to nerve damage due to diseases. These traumatic causes include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Product liability accidents involving products that malfunction due to their design, construction, or usage defects
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability accidents including slip and fall accidents and negligent security
- Dog bites
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
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What are the signs and symptoms of nerve damage?
Our Vancouver, WA nerve damage attorneys work with neurosurgeons and other doctors who understand how to recognize, diagnose, and treat nerve injuries.
Some of the signs and symptoms of nerve damage include:
- Unexplained pain. This type of pain, also called spontaneous pain, may involve stabbing pain, burning sensations, numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation.
- Allodynia. This condition occurs when cold, pressure, and other stimuli that normally don’t cause pain – cause pain. Allodynia is an “extreme sensitivity to touch.”
- Hyperalgesia. This condition occurs when heat, pinpricks, and other normally painful stimuli cause more pain than they should.
- Hypoalgesia. This condition is generally the opposite of hyperalgesia. The victim doesn’t experience pain when they should like when a pinprick doesn’t hurt.
- Dysesthesia. This condition refers to strange, unpleasant, or other unexpected sensations.
- Insomnia. Another symptom of nerve damage is difficulty sleeping.
According to the Mayo Clinic, sensory nerves help us experience pain, touch, and temperature from the skin. Motor nerves control the movements of the muscles. Autonomic nerves control sweating, blood pressure, digestion, bladder control, and heart rate. Symptoms, in addition to those discussed above, may include a lack of coordination, an inability to move motor nerves, dizziness, and digestive difficulties.
How do doctors diagnose if I have nerve damage in Vancouver, WA?
The Cleveland Clinic states that your doctor should take an oral history and conduct a physical examination.
The Mayo Clinic states that during the physical examination, your doctor may examine your muscle strength, sensitivity, balance, and tendon reflexes. Diagnostic tests may include blood tests, CT scans, MRI scans, nerve function tests that use electromyography (an EMG) to “measure and record electrical activity in your muscles to find nerve damage), other nerve function tests (such as an autonomic reflex screen), and a nerve biopsy which involves removing a small portion of a nerve, usually a sensory nerve, to try to find the cause of the neuropathy.” A skin biopsy may also be used to look at the number of nerve endings.
What are the treatments for nerve damage?
The treatments for nerve damage due to traumatic events vary depending on the affected nerves, your symptoms, and other factors.
The Cleveland Clinic states that the treatment goals include providing pain relief, helping you function, and improving your quality of life. Possible nerve damage treatments (you may need more than one) include:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) medications. These pain relief medications include ibuprofen and acetaminophen
- Anti-seizure medications. These medications may work to interfere with the pain signals in your body.
- Antidepressant medications. Many nerve damage victims in Vancouver may experience anxiety and depression. Experts believe these medications treat pain as well as anxiety and depression symptoms.
- Topical treatments. Creams, skin patches, and creams may help including capsaicin and lidocaine.
- Nerve blocks. A doctor may give you this injection for temporary pain relief – close to the affected nerves.
- Physical therapy. This treatment method focuses on massage and exercise to help relieve stiffness, discomfort, and soreness by encouraging your body to produce more natural pain-relieving chemicals.
- Surgery, In some cases a neurosurgeon can help remove, repair, or “release” certain nerves to help eliminate or reduce your pain.
Nerve damage victims may also benefit from psychological counseling to deal with the stress and anxiety of constant pain.
Many nerve damage victims live with chronic pain for the rest of their lives.
What is the value of my nerve damage claim in Washington state?
Our Vancouver, WA personal injury lawyers work with neurologists, family doctors, and other physicians to verify your nerve damage, understand the medical treatments you will need, the cost of your medical care, and every way your nerve injuries affect every aspect of your life.
We demand compensation for your current and future:
- Medical expenses
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Lost income (wages and other income sources) and lost benefits
- Property damage
- Loss of bodily function
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Any scarring or disfigurement
Do you have a nerve damage lawyer near me?
Philbrook Law Office maintains three office locations for your convenience:
- 300 W. 39th Street in Vancouver, WA
- 105 N Parkway Ave., Ste 104 in Battle Ground, WA
- 107 SE Washington St., Suite 520 in Portland, OR
We come to clients if they are too injured to come to our office. We also conduct consultations by phone and through video conferences.
Speak with our caring Vancouver, WA nerve damage lawyers now
We understand how frightened you are. Coping with nerve damage can be overwhelming. You have medical bills to pay and you need to support yourself and your family. The pain can be unbearable. At Philbrook Law Office, we want to help. Our nerve damage lawyers in Vancouver and Battle Ground, WA have decades of experience helping folks find a new path forward. To schedule a free consultation, please call us or fill out our contact form. We also represent clients in the greater Portland area and throughout Oregon.