Crush injuries can cause nerve damage from direct damage or from compartment syndrome, putting pressure on the body and destroying tissue. The long-term effects of a crush injury may include paralysis, weakness, tingling, pain, and movement impairment.
Crush Injuries and Their Impact
A crush injury is abnormal pressure mechanically applied on the body. It may occur when the force on the body is too great or too long.
The result is harm to the body, which may include nerve damage. A crushing injury may be major or minor, with major injuries usually the result of a car or machinery accident.
How Crush Injuries Affect the Nervous System
Crush injuries affect the nervous system by causing tissue death and deformity. A person may lose sensation or function. They may have unusual feelings, pain, and tingling because of damage to the nervous system. Some injuries may heal over time, but nerve injuries are often permanent.
Understanding the nervous system
The nervous system is the communication system between the brain and the body. The nervous system is made up of neurons and glial cells. Neurons are sensors and communicators, while the glial cells support and nourish the neurons. Each neuron has several parts that work together to carry out its function.
The peripheral nerves are the nerves beyond the brain and spinal cord. They exist throughout the body, and their job is to relay messages between the body, spinal cord, and brain.
When nerve cells are crushed, they are damaged at the cellular level from an external source.
There are several ways that the cell can become damaged:
- ATP depletion (the energy-carrying fuel of the cell)
- Broken cell membranes
- Biochemical process disruption
- DNA damage
A cell may be directly damaged from the crushing injury or may suffer hypoxia, which is oxygen deprivation. When cells are damaged, they may adapt, reduce their function, or die. Sometimes, a cell can restore its function. In the case of crush injuries, some nerves can regrow and regain function, but the process is often slow.
Can a crush injury cause nerve damage?
A crush injury can cause nerve damage by changing the function of the nerve cell or causing tissue death. Harm can affect the way the peripheral nerves send and receive signals from the central nervous system. The result may be abnormal sensations, pain, and difficulty moving.
Symptoms of Nerve Damage from Crush Injuries
Symptoms of nerve damage from crushing injury may include:
- Muscle weakness
- Pain
- Cramps
- Muscle twitching
- Walking impairment
- Balance impairment
- Problems with fine motor control
- Difficulty sensing changes in temperature
- Impairment in sensing pain
- Excessive sweating
- Blood pressure changes
- Sensitivity to heat
- Stomach aches, digestive abnormalities
Nerve damage can cause numerous and varied symptoms. What a person with nerve damage will experience depends on the extent of the damage and the type of nerves that are harmed.
Motor nerves
Motor nerves coordinate voluntary muscle movement. When they are damaged, a person may not be able to move their muscles voluntarily. They may lack strength. Muscles may twitch, and spasms may occur.
Sensory nerves
Sensory nerves gather information. Difficulty sensing can impair a person’s ability to interpret and interact with the world around them. They may have difficulty balancing, interpreting touch, or determining if they are hot or cold. Pain may also occur with sensory nerve damage.
Autonomic nerves
Autonomic nerves manage involuntary bodily functions. Things like heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and digestion are regulated by autonomic nerves. Dizziness, trouble eating, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction can all result from autonomic nerve damage.
Treatment Options for Nerve Damage
If a crushing injury results in skeletal damage, the person must receive care to heal the bone. If the crushing injury causes soft tissue damage, the treatment plan will depend on the severity of the injury and prognosis for recovery.
Minor nerve injuries may heal with several weeks of rest. Nerves that are not destroyed can heal, but it is a slow process. Up to 12 weeks of rest may be necessary to achieve full improvement for minor nerve damage.
An important component of treatment includes managing nerve pain after a crush injury. Surgery may be appropriate, but some people see improvement with medication, physical therapy, and neurostimulation. Some injured nerves may be repaired. Alternatively, a patient may see improvement when injured nerves are removed. Other measures like relaxation techniques, massage, hot and cold therapy, and acupuncture can help manage nerve pain.
Antidepressant or anticonvulsant medication, corticosteroids, or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs may help. In addition, there are relatively new medical devices that can block nerve signals, which may improve neuropathic pain. Surgery may be used if more conservative methods are unsuccessful.
Long-Term Prognosis for Nerve Recovery
For some, nerve recovery is possible. It can take a long time, and significant medical intervention may be needed. An accurate and early diagnosis can be beneficial to create an effective care plan.
When nerve damage is permanent, a person does not fully recover. They may benefit from physical and occupational therapy to adjust and learn coping skills. A person may experience long-term numbness, tingling, and feelings of pins and needles. They may also have long-term physical impairment. A person may need medical intervention to address complications of autonomic nerve damage, which may include breathing, digestive, excretory, and sexual abnormalities.
Contact an Experienced Gastonia Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have suffered nerve damage from a crushing injury, we invite you to contact an experienced Gastonia personal injury lawyer at Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys. We represent people who have complex medical injuries from crushing accidents.
An experienced lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve. We put our knowledge and experience to work on behalf of our clients. Call or message us now.
