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The Five Worst Things You Could Do With A Herniated Disc In Virginia
When you hear of a spinal cord injury, you may assume that it only refers to complete injuries that cause paralysis. There are, however, other spinal cord injuries that do not cause paralysis but still cause suffering. One such injury is a herniated disc. Have you been told that you have a herniated disc in your spine? While there are treatment options available in Virginia to aid in the healing process, you can also do more damage by engaging in any of the activities listed below.
Drive yourself to a hospital
- If you suspect you may have a herniated disc after an accident, it is always better to be transported by an ambulance than attempt to drive yourself. Medical professionals will know how to care for your spinal cord injury.
Lift heavy weights
- While you may not head to the gym with a spinal cord injury, many forget that even lifting a child qualifies as lifting weight. Be cautious with how much weight you lift when you have a herniated disc.
What Is Involved When Diagnosing Spinal Cord Injuries?
Some spinal cord injuries are very obvious, as there is significant pain or signs of weakness and paralysis; however, other spinal cord injuries aren't as easy to detect. This is why it is important that immediate medical treatment is sought when people have head injuries, pelvic fractures, penetrating injuries to the spine, spine lumps, decrease in feeling and movement in their extremities, difficulty walking, pressure or pain in the chest, and difficulty breathing.
Because of the seriousness of spinal cord injuries, these traumas require an accurate diagnosis and immediate medical attention. In order to determine if a person has sustained a spinal cord injury, a doctor will usually talk with the patient about the accident, ask questions, and conduct tests for movement and sensory function. Additionally, a doctor will order certain diagnostic tests to get a better view of the spine and vertebrae.
Imaging Tests Involved in Diagnosing Spinal Cord Injuries
For help determining if there is a spinal fracture, nerve damage, injury to the discs, muscle weakness, or other damage to the spine, diagnostic and imaging tests will be performed, which can include: x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, myelography, electromyography, and nerve conduction study-all diagnostic tests we have discussed and defined on our practice area page that we invite you to read.
Accidents And Back-Ups On The Beltway From A Wrong Way Driver
During the week, Interstate 495 is a heavily traveled highway by residents of northern Virginia and Washington DC. On Thursday, April 11, 2013, drivers were faced with an unusually long commute. A crash on the Outer Loop of the Beltway closed the southbound lanes for almost two hours. The cause of the accident was explained as a silver Chevrolet Impala, driving in the wrong direction.
Police were notified at approximately 1:10 p.m. that the Impala was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes. They received the call just as the Impala was exiting the southbound express lanes into the regular southbound lanes at mile marker 44. At the Dulles Toll Road exit, the Impala hit a trailer that was being pulled by a pickup truck, and then crashed into a Toyota Corolla in a head-on collision. The vehicles in turn collided with a Honda.
State police reported that the drivers of the Impala, Toyota, and Honda were all transported to Fairfax Inova Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Police have also stated that charges are pending for the driver of the Impala, a 25-year-old Missouri man. They said it does appear that alcohol is a factor in the incident.
Fairfax Birth Injury Attorneys: Risks of Vaginal Birth after Cesarean
When given the choice, most women prefer to have their children delivered naturally rather than by c-section. There is often much less risk of re-hospitalization, traumatic birth injuries and loss of life in vaginal delivery–but women attempting vaginal birth after surgery are a special case.If you are considering a natural birth after previously having a C-section, you should weigh the risks very carefully. Many people are unaware that the procedure carries serious risks, and uterine rupture is the most dangerous of all.The biggest risk to mothers undergoing vaginal birth after caesarean, or VBAC, in Virginia, is the re-opening of the internal scar from their c-section. This is known as a uterine rupture, and can have the same traumatic side effects as c-sections, including birth injury, severe blood loss, cerebral palsy or even infant death.You doctor should consider the following risks of uterine rupture in Virginia before performing VBAC:
- Chemically-induced labor. Studies have shown that prostaglandin labors increase the likelihood of uterine ruptures up to fifteen times that of drug-free births.
Coping With Cerebral Palsy In Virginia: Treatment Options For Your Child
Did you have hopes and plans for your child that he or she will never realize? Did a birth injury to your little one cause cerebral palsy? Are you left to figure out how to treat your child's symptoms and maintain a great quality of life?
Cerebral Palsy Treament Options
Sadly, cerebral palsy is an incurable disorder, affecting those diagnosed with it for the entirety of their lives. This is one of the reasons that cerebral palsy can be so financially and emotionally draining for a family. However, there are a variety of treatment options available to those with cerebral palsy that can help them to manage the effects and symptoms.
While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, there are several treatment options that can be very helpful in managing its effects. Those suffering with cerebral palsy have issues with muscle control and mobility so treatment is aimed at aiding in those areas. These treatment options include:
Semi Truck Accidents Can Lead to Neck Fusion Surgery in Virginia
When you were hit by a DC tractor-trailer, you may have thought you had an ordinary case of whiplash. You were hit from behind, and you've heard about these kinds of injuries before...but now your doctor says it's much more serious than a soft-tissue injury.
Neck Injuries Are Often More Serious Than They Appear
Many victims assume that a pain in the neck is a minor injury, especially if they were able to walk away from their Fairfax semi accident. Unfortunately, these victims miss the opportunity to hold the trucking company accountable for their injury costs, assuming their insurance will be enough to cover the damage – only to find later that they need surgery and will be out of work for weeks to come.
If you're not sure about filing a Fairfax truck accident case you should know that a cervical spinal injury can be both exhausting and expensive. Many victims experience severe pain, numbness, or "pins and needles" in their extremities, and will require disc surgery to take pressure off of the spinal cord.
Pancreatic Warning For Virginians Taking Diabetes Medications
A new study released by UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) has found a connection between the type 2 diabetes drugs known as incretin mimetics (like Merck's Januvia) and abnormal cell growth in the pancreas. The cell damage was shown to increase a patient's likelihood of developing cancer as well. This is not the first time that type 2 diabetes drugs have been under scrutiny.
In response to the study, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that they would review unpublished findings by a group of researchers that previously suggested the possibility of pre-cancerous cellular changes associated with type 2 diabetes drugs, Byetta and Victoza.
The FDA continues to hear reports about the increase of pancreatic disorders, including cancer, from patients using these drugs. In 2007, the FDA released a statement that patients using Byetta were at an increased risk for pancreatitis. In 2009, a similar statement was released for Januvia. Insurance records show that a patient's risk of developing pancreatitis may double when using these diabetic medications.
When Injuries Are Caused by Negligent Property Owners
Accidents occur and innocent people are often injured as a result of someone else's negligence-including negligence on the part of a property owner. It is important to know that people who own retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, commercial and business buildings, apartment complexes, and other public buildings are required by law to take care of the premises. When they fail to keep the grounds safe (a key ingredient in slip and fall accident claims), people can suffer serious injuries as a result of dangerous conditions.
For example, a property owner or possessor could have known about a hazard such as torn carpeting, loose floorboards, broken handrails, or a spill, and failed to act quickly and take the responsible steps to clean up or repair the dangerous condition. Worse yet, maybe they didn't even take the necessary steps to warn those visiting the property of the hazardous condition. Consequently, injuries to customers or visitors can occur.
If the aforementioned scenario sounds like something that happened to you and you suffered an injury in a slip and fall accident on someone else's property, you may have a valid premises liability claim against the property owner who didn't ensure the safety of the property. Property owners can include:
License Regulations For Teen Drivers In Virginia
Did you know that within the first year of driving, almost a quarter of all teenagers will be involved in a traffic accident or receive a traffic violation ticket? A number of states have written new laws for younger drivers, and the Commonwealth is one of them. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has implemented a set of laws that are similar to the "graduated drivers license" (GDL) laws of other states. The regulations are designed to lower the high accident rates among teen drivers in Virginia.
The laws apply to every license applicant under 19 years of age and divide the process of obtaining a license into two phases. Each phase is designed to teach young drivers safe driving techniques in a gradual manner.
How To Obtain a Virginia Drivers License
General steps to obtain a drivers license in Virginia:
- If you are under 19, you must complete a DMV-approved driver's education course.
- Once you have completed a driver's education course, you can apply for a learners permit. You must be at least 15 years, 6 months of age.
How to Deal with an Insurance Adjuster After an Injury
Any time you suffer an injury as a result of someone else's wrongdoing, you can bet on the fact that an insurance adjuster will be contacting you. It is important to remember that no matter how nice an insurance adjuster sounds over the phone, it is not an adjuster's job to protect your interests. In fact, adjusters are trained to give out as little money as possible. This is why it is very important to the outcome of your personal injury claim that you know what to say and not to say to an insurance adjuster.
How to Deal With an Insurance Adjuster on Your Own
Insurance adjusters have a knack for asking leading questions and using people's words against them. They do this to limit the company's liability. Because of this, talking to an insurance adjuster can be tricky, which is why we have created the following list of tips to help you deal with an insurance adjuster when handling your own injury claim:
- Gather information before talking with an insurance adjuster. It is important to your injury claim outcome that you have evidence and can make your case as strong as possible. For this reason, it is in your best interest to take pictures of the accident or hazard that caused your injuries. Also, you should obtain a copy of any police report or incident report. Make notes while everything is still fresh in your mind; however, you don't want to share all of your documentation with the insurance adjuster just yet. Only do this once you know the full extent of your injuries and have reached maximum medical improvement.
703-591-0067
10513 Judicial Drive, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-591-0067
From our office in Fairfax, Shevlin Smith, P.C. serves clients throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Dale City, Fair Oaks, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, and Woodbridge, as well as Fairfax County, Arlington County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
