Surgical procedures often have many side effects. Pain at the incision site, minor bleeding, and tenderness are especially common and usually fall within the expected complications of any surgery, but some patients experience numbness and paralysis in their limbs or near the surgical site after some procedures. Some numbness might be expected, but paralysis and complete loss of feeling may be the result of medical negligence and malpractice.
Talk to a lawyer if you suffer from paralysis or loss of feeling after surgery. The Queenan Law Firm’s Arlington attorneys for paralysis caused by surgery might be able to take your case to court and fight to get you compensation for your injuries. Call our law offices today to schedule a free legal consultation and learn more about your injury and your options for compensation. Our number is (817) 476-1797.
When Paralysis after Surgery is Caused by Medical Malpractice
When you undergo surgery, the doctor and the rest of the medical team owes you a “duty of care.” This means that they must use the proper care and skill in treating you that any other reasonable physician with their qualifications would use in the same situation. There is no one-size-fits-all “standard of care,” and each case is unique. However, if the physician’s care fell below the standard of care in your case, you may be the victim of medical negligence and medical malpractice.
In some cases, slight paralysis or numbness after surgery is within the range of acceptable complications of surgery. This is especially common in cases where the doctor was operating on the nerves directly or operating near the nerves, such as in cases of surgery on the spine. However, wide-spread paralysis or numbness is often the result of errors or mistakes.
Common Causes of Numbness and Paralysis after Surgery
Paralysis refers to more than just the inability to walk. While many people suffer paralysis in their legs (paraplegia) or in all four limbs (tetraplegia or quadriplegia), you can also face paralysis in any one limb, in a group of muscles, or in the face. Many instances of paralysis are caused by injury to the nerves and tendons in your arm or wrist or in your leg or ankle, or they are caused by damage to nerves in your back, neck, or face.
Facial paralysis is an injury that can occur from medical negligence during childbirth. Improper use of forceps could put undue pressure on the facial nerve or cranial nerve and cause the baby to lose feeling and muscle control in part of their face. This can leave long-lasting effects that cause the baby future suffering and discomfort. Facial paralysis can also occur in other injuries to these nerves or because of other neurological problems.
Injuries to the nerves can occur because of surgical errors. When operating on certain parts of the body, the surgeon may be close to nerve bundles and groupings and could accidentally sever a nerve if they cut too deep or fail to use the proper care and skill. Nicking or damaging a nerve may mean facing partial paralysis, pain, numbness, and lack of sensation at all points connected to that nerve. Severing a nerve entirely could mean losing all sensation and facing full paralysis.
“Positioning injuries” also contribute to nerve damage in some cases. During surgery, the patient may need to be placed in awkward poses so that the surgical team can access the area. This could involve laying on one’s arm or having another limb bent at a difficult angle. If the doctor leaves the patient in an awkward position for a long time, it could put undue pressure on the nerves in that joint and cause permanent damage. This is common for areas like the brachial plexus, a group of nerves in your shoulder that can be injured by having your shoulder cramped or having your arm overextended. Brachial plexus injuries can also occur during childbirth, sometimes from negligent use of forceps or deliveries that were unnecessarily prolonged.
Damages for Surgical Paralysis in Texas
If you suffered negligent medical care and faced serious or permanent injuries, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries. Paralysis in a limb, visible paralysis in your face, or paralysis causing inability to walk can all require additional medical care and can take a toll on your ability to work, your ability to care for yourself, and your day-to-day comfort. Each of these harms can lead to compensation.
The compensation for medical expenses should cover any additional medical care you need. In some cases where a nerve is damaged or severed, you could undergo more surgery to repair the damage. Even if the nerve can be reattached, there may still be residual effects such as pain, numbness, and pins-and-needles sensations. This could require physical therapy and rehabilitation. All of these care costs should be covered.
If you miss work and are unable to support yourself because of the injuries you faced, you may be entitled to lost wages. This can cover the wages you miss during recovery and while undergoing care, but it can also cover ongoing reduced earning capacity caused by the paralysis.
You can also seek independent compensation for the pain and suffering you face, such as the physical discomfort and mental anguish of the injury.
Call Our Arlington Paralysis from Surgical Error Lawyer for a Free Case Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered paralysis after spinal surgery or suffered nerve damage leading to paralysis in a limb, your face, or another area of the body, call The Queenan Law Firm. Our Arlington attorneys for paralysis caused by surgery may be able to represent you in your medical malpractice claim and fight to get you the compensation you need. For your free consultation, call us today at (817) 476-1797.