Neck and back injuries often do not manifest symptoms or problems immediately after an accident or trauma, and often not for several days afterward. Also, these types of injuries often take a long time to heal, if they ever heal. It is important not to be impatient or hurry to settle a bodily injury claim, especially if neck or back injuries are involved, and to ensure before any settlement that you have reached maximum medical improvement with your injury.

Unless an actual fracture, or misalignment, of the vertebrae is involved, injuries to the neck and back are termed "soft tissue injuries", which do not show up on regular x-rays. These would include injuries to the muscles, nerves, discs, tendons, ligaments, and supporting structures of the neck and back.

Further diagnostic testing may be necessary to diagnose these injuries, which would include any possible combination of the following tests: MRI's, CT scans, myelograms and sonograms. Still, certain soft tissue injuries will not be revealed even with further diagnostic testing. However, it is especially important to obtain further diagnostic testing involving one or more of the tests noted above if you are experiencing any symptoms involving radiating or shooting pain, numbness, or tingling into your arms or legs.

Also, it is important to note that any injuries to your neck or back, even if resolved, may render you more susceptible to re-injury or re-aggravation of the injury in the future, with little or no trauma involved.

Contact my firm to discuss your case.