Bentonville Personal Injury Lawyer - Spinal Cord Injuries

Goals of Rehabilitation Following a Spinal Cord Injury

Sach Oliver — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:41:33 GMT

Goals of Rehabilitation Following a Spinal Cord Injury

Change should be expected following a spinal cord injury. One of the most important things that a person can do is setting goals for rehabilitation following a spinal injury. Setting goals allows a person to “facilitate [his/her] return to performance of accustomed tasks and roles in [his/her] family and in society.”[1] Of course, accomplishing goals requires a person who suffers from a spinal injury to make adjustments, acquire certain skills, possess necessary equipment, adapt their physical environment, and maintain their health.[2]

Adjustment

First of all, one who suffers a spinal cord injury must make psychosocial adjustments including coming to terms with their loss.[3] Furthermore, a person must make adjustments to their vocation and recreation activities since many of the activities possible before injury are now impractical.[4] Adapting these two areas of one’s life will likely require significant changes, but are necessary to developing a well adjusted life.

Functional Skills

Perhaps most affected by spinal cord injuries are a person’s physical capabilities. Learning to function despite altered capabilities will require one to take up functional training.[5] The goals set in this area are critical, as accomplishing them will allow a person to become more independent and mobile.[6]

Necessary Equipment

Acquiring the necessary equipment following spinal injury is interconnected with developing functional skills that allow a person to maintain their independence. Often, as part of an overall plan for recovery, the right equipment enhances one’s health and performance of socially defined roles.[7]

Adapting the Physical Environment

The architectural environment of most places is not well suited to those with spinal cord injuries. The most adaptable place is often the home environment, and adequate adaptation should take place in order to promote independence.[8]

Maintaining Health

Following a spinal cord injury, a host of health maintenance issues will arise that one probably did not consider prior to injury. “Virtually constant vigilance is required to avoid complications such as pressure sores and urinary tract infections.”[9] Avoiding health deteriorations requires one to “learn how [his/her] body works, how to prevent and detect complications, and what to do when complications occur.”[10]

Setting practical goals in these areas will help a person’s rehabilitation following spinal cord injury.

[1] Martha Somers, Spinal Cord Injuries: Functional Rehabilitation (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001), 2.

[2] Id. at 2-3.

[3] Id. at 3.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id. at 4.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] Id.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Why Seeking Help is Critical

Sach Oliver — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:32:38 GMT

In dealing with spinal injuries, seeking help immediately is critical to a victim’s well being. Procrastinating with a vertebral injury can cause irreparable damage. The primary purpose of seeking immediate attention for such injuries is so that healthcare providers can practice “fracture management” in order to “[preserve] neurological function.” [1] This enables healthcare professionals to detect injuries early, and stabilize the spine (using a number of methods) to prevent neural tissue from further damage.[2] Further, successfully stabilizing the spine early minimizes spinal deformities which might develop if proper procedures are not taken up front.[3]

Healthcare professionals use a number of methods to manage a fracture of the spine, including traction, positioning, surgery, orthoses, or a combination thereof in order to restore vertebral alignment.[4] All of this is to say that seeking help is critical. Often, the spine can be injured in circumstances in which a person is able to walk away. However, one may not always know that their spine has been injured, and this is why seeking medical attention is critical. Delay in treating injuries to the spine can result in unnecessary disability or in some cases, even death. [5]

[1] Martha Somers, Spinal Cord Injuries: Functional Rehabilitation (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001), 40.

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Coping With Spinal Injuries: A Positive Outlook

Sach Oliver — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:29:31 GMT

Many people are aware of who Christopher Reeves was. The man who was Superman to so many Americans suffered a spinal injury which resulted in paralysis, when he fell from a horse. For many people it was a tragic scene to see a man who had leaped burning buildings spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. While I am in no way downplaying the seriousness of such an injury (they are life-changing), it is important to know that for many people who suffer spinal cord injuries, life afterwards is not always tragic.

It is interesting to note that while a variety of serious emotions are felt by those who suffer spinal cord injuries, most people adapt well to their injury over time.[1] Research notes that after a period of adjustment the injured tend to have positive-self concepts, are in general satisfied with life, and are not more depressed than the non-injured.[2] One spinal cord injury sufferer noted that “We are the living demonstration that even if life circumstances become tough, life satisfaction can remain high. We’re proof that things can be hard, but good. People need to know that.”[3]

After a serious spinal injury it is typical for those injured to feel sadness, anger, hostility, anxiety, panic, feelings of inadequacy, shame, helplessness, and vulnerability.[4] It takes strong support to overcome these feelings and issues, but it can be done with the right help.

[1] Martha Somers, Spinal Cord Injuries: Functional Rehabilitation (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001), 59.

[2] Id.

[3] Quote by Barry Corbet; Martha Somers, Spinal Cord Injuries: Functional Rehabilitation (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001), 60.

[4] Id, at 59.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Primary Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury

Sach Oliver — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 09:49:50 GMT

Primary Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury

Most people who can walk and don’t have a spinal cord usually think spinal cord injury victims have just lost the use of their legs. While losing your legs and the ability to walk is a major loss, spinal cord injury victims lose much more than just their ability to walk. Let’s discuss the primary effects of a spinal cord injury.

Primary Effects:

1. Voluntary Motor Function: As mentioned above this is the most obvious loss. Damage of the descending motor tracts, anterior horn cells, or nerve roots impairs the capacity to contract the skeletal muscles below the spinal cord injury. This results in the loss of control over the trunk and extremities.
2. Muscle Tone: Muscle tone throughout the body has two opposite effects. The obvious problem is that when extremities muscles are no longer used they lose muscle tone. On the other hand, after a spinal cord injury spasticity creates a velocity dependent increase in muscle tone in response to passive movement. This is why so many spinal cord victims are on muscle relaxers. The spasms are more severe in certain areas of their bodies.
3. Sensation: Sensation is lost in certain areas of the body which leads to awkward or discoordination of body movements.
4. Breathing and Coughing: Breathing and coughing utilizes the diaphragm, accessory muscles, intercostals, and abdominal musculature. A spinal cord injury above T12 will affect these muscles and create respiratory problems.
5. Bowel and Bladder Function: The sacral cord must be intact to have control over these functions. Almost all spinal cord injuries affect the ability to control bowel and bladder function. Undoubtedly, an embarrassing problem for patients.
6. Cardiovascular Function: Obviously the spinal cord controls everything. When impairment occurs the muscles giving inflow and outflow to the heart are weakened causing blood pressure problems, heart rate problems, and distribution of blood flow reduction. When spinal cord injury blocks communication between the brainstem and the thoracic spinal cord, input to the heart is lost. This disruption to the heart often causes hypotension.
7. Thermoregulation: Usually spinal cord injury victim experience a core temperature drop. The body naturally begins to shiver to increase the body temperature. Then the body tends to overheat and the person experiences cold to hot problems.

These are simply the primary effect that a spinal cord injury patient starts to experience. These issues lead to other complications. The next time you meet someone with a spinal cord injury remember their complications are much more than just not being able to walk.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Spinal Cord Injury

Sach Oliver — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:45:33 GMT

Spinal Cord Injury

I am reading a very informative and interesting book about spinal cord injuries. The book is titled Spinal Cord Injury: Functional Rehabilitation. The author is Martha Freeman Somers with the Department of Physical Therapy, Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. My wife, Codi, is an occupational therapist and this was one of her text books in OT school. I bet she never thought she would marry a man so nerdy that he would read her college text books. Some folks just luck out.

Back on point, this book is perfect if you want to learn about spinal cord injuries. It paints the picture of what it takes for spinal cord injured patients to get back to a functional life. I plan on blogging about different topics throughout the book over the upcoming weeks.

As an introduction, every year almost 10,000 people receive a spinal cord injury in the United States.[1] The causes for spinal cord injuries are below:[2]

1. Motor vehicle accidents: 37.2%
2. Acts of violence: 26.8%
3. Falls: 21.0%
4. Sports injuries: 7.1%
5. Other causes: 7.9%

[1] National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center.(1999). Spinal Cord Injury: Facts and Figures at a Glance. Available from: www.spinalcord.uab.edu/docs/factsfig.htm

[2] Id.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Northwest Medical Center Added to Malpractice Suit

Sach Oliver — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:24:41 GMT

We amended the complaint in a medical negligence case yesterday. Our clients are Terry and Eddie Paulino. They are wonderful people and great clients. Following filing the complaint, Scott F. Davis with the Northwest Arkansas Times wrote and article about the amended complaint titled Northwest Medical Center Added to Malpractice Suit. I encourage you to click on the title of the article and go to www.nwanews.com and read the article in full. If you have questions about this case, please feel free to contact our offices.

A few portions of the article are below:

"A Bentonville couple amended its malpractice lawsuit Thursday against Dr. Cyril "Tony" Anthony Raben and his clinic, Northwest Arkansas Spine and Orthopedic Associates, adding three new parties as defendants."

"The Paulinos added Northwest Medical Center to the lawsuit claiming "negligent credentialing" after learning that an audit by the Arkansas State Medical Board showed a very high complication rate for Raben's prior surgeries."

"In a letter dated May 9, 2007, Dr. John L. Wilson informed Peggy Pryor Cryer, executive secretary of the Arkansas State Medical Board, that a review of 15 spinal surgeries performed by Raben showed that patients suffered complications in 11 of 15 cases, or 73 percent. He notes in the letter that the average range for problems with spinal surgeries in between 20 and 22 percent."

"Doctor Raben recommends surgery with indications that are scant at best. He warns his patients that bad things may happen when he does surgery. Sure enough, with his complication rate in the 15 cases I have reviewed, he is not being untruthful," Wilson stated.

"The Paulinos added Melanie Richard, R.N., and American Intraoperative Monitoring LLC. as defendants after learning through Raben's deposition that the monitoring team at the hospital knew that Paulino lost feeling in her legs, but did not inform Raben during or after the surgery, said Sach Oliver, a Bentonville attorney representing the family."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Preparing For A Focus Group

Sach Oliver — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:12:00 GMT

This post written by: Leona Crowe, Legal Assistant to Sach Oliver

Our firm has begun to hold focus groups in the majority of our cases and also for outside law firms. My job in preparing for these focus groups is to prepare the documents that are used during and after the focus group. The documents consist of a confidential agreement that is signed by the mock jurors stating that they agree to keep any information disclosed confidential. Attached to this agreement is a questionnaire to ask the mock juror a few questions about their life experiences in and outside of the legal system. The rest of the documents are outlined below.

After introductions are made, the defense attorney and plaintiff’s attorney both present opening statements to the mock jury in the case, then the mock jurors are presented with a post-opening questionnaire to stop and fill out right then. Afterward, the attorneys continue to present their cases and the mock jurors are once again presented with a post-evidentiary questionnaire. After both attorneys have presented their closing statements, the mock jury is split into two groups to deliberate and issue their verdicts. Our firm video tapes these deliberations.

These focus groups have given excellent insight to our attorneys or to the outside attorney or law firm that has requested the mock trial. We had one firm that changed their approach completely after using our firm’s focus group program and won a very large verdict in their case.

Once the focus group is complete, my job is to put the questionnaires and hand written notes of the jurors in an organized binder along with a copy of the deliberations for the attorney or outside law firm. These also are excellent to keep in your library for reference in the future.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Cervical Spine Litigation

Sach Oliver — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:33:33 GMT

When working on cervical spine cases, it is essential that I learn all there is to know about the cervical spine. So I start reading articles, journals, text books, and tons of information on the internet. I also start calling doctors to ask questions and here their view point. Each cervical spine case is a little bit different because the surgeries performed on the patients vary. So I have to request the surgeons medical records and learn all there is to know about that individual surgery. Some cervical spine surgeries we have extensive experience with are anterior cervical discectomy and anterior cervical corpectomy operations. We have handled cases involving single level and multi-level operations.

If you or someone you know has had a cervical spine surgery that resulted in a spinal cord injury, you should give us a call to discuss your situation. Patients do not deserve bad results at the hands of a negligent surgeon. We all know that one of the risks of these types of surgeries is a spinal cord injury but that is if the surgeon followed the accepted surgical procedure also known as the standard of care.

What did your surgeon tell you before the surgery?

Did you understand what was about to happened to you?

Did your surgeon tell you they would be removing vertebrae from your neck?

Did you surgeon tell you they would be removing a disc from your neck?

Did the surgeon tell his or her complication rate?

Did the surgeon tell you that another more experienced surgeon has a better complication rate?

If you had a cervical spine surgery, hopefully, you are just fine. However, if you were injured, let us review the medical records and the operative report to see why you have a spinal cord injury after the surgery.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

A VALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE: Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Sach Oliver — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:56:00 GMT

This post written by: Leona Crowe, Legal Assistant to Sach Oliver

Recently, I finished reading Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People and the concept outlined in the book has literally changed my life. I learned to control my environment instead of letting it control me. It is all in the choices you make.

The Seven Habits are: 1) Be Proactive, 2) Begin with the end in mind, 3) Put first things first, 4) Think win-win, 5) Seek first to understand and then to be understood, 6) Synergize, and finally 7) Sharpen the saw.

After understanding these concepts, I began to redo how I manage my time. In listing all my daily activities, I always pick the first 3-4 activities that can bring me results closest to my goals. Next, I would do those activities first before anything else. Stephen Covey said, “In order to achieve the desired result, you have to work toward your goals.”

Before reading this book, I would respond to situations and circumstances with either/or and now I realize I don’t have to choose either/or. I can choose something else or simply not choose at all.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Why Choose Our Firm

Sach Oliver — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:30:56 GMT

Every Monday morning we have a meeting to discuss our goals we intend on accomplishing for each of our clients that week. The meeting gets started early, sometimes as early as 6:30am. After we had our goals figured out this morning, I asked Leona, one of the world's greatest legal assistants, why should a person who is hurting choose our firm.

This is what she said:

"I believe that a potential client should choose our firm because we work our cases as if we were the client. We go out of our way to examine and investigate every possible avenue of compensation available to the client. We do all the investigative work and request all medical records, leaving the client able to concentrate on recovery. As a potential client, I would rather concentrate on healing and getting the rest necessary to fully recover instead of worrying about all the paperwork and phone calls that are required in pursuit of these cases. We are a full service firm and our main objective is to make the client’s life easier and to obtain the best possible outcome in every case."

Wow! It is wonderful to work with such caring people such as Leona. After hearing this, it makes it easier to understand why she works so hard for our clients.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver