INJURY | PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER | PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY | INJURIES

Body and limb injuries can occur for many reasons, including during vehicle collisions, while participating in sports, during falls, or because of medical mistakes.

Body and limb injuries include knee, foot and shoulder injuries, as well as disfigurement, loss of mobility and broken bones. Statistics vary depending upon the event that caused the injury. For example:

• Skiers are twice as likely to injure their lower limbs
• Offshore workers are more likely to injure their upper limbs, including their hands, wrists and arms
• Pedestrians hit by cars are most likely to suffer lower limb injuries
• People who slip and fall are most likely to injure their hips, backs and wrists

 

Foot injuries occur during falls, car accidents, work related accidents, and while playing sports. The most common cause of foot injury is trauma. Other causes include overuse and improper footwear, as well as poor posture, medical conditions, high impact sports, and industrial cumulative stress (repetitive stress) such as police work, serving food and other jobs that require standing and walking for long periods of time. Foot injuries include strains, sprains, broken and crushed bones, amputations, and toe and ankle injuries. Foot injuries are often frustrating to heal because the patient must rely on crutches or a wheelchair in order to move. Also, the lower back is greatly affected by foot pain. Physical therapy is usually an important part of the healing process. Your feet have more than two-dozen bones and joints, and although the bones are tiny, they still have to bear the weight of the entire body. Foot injuries can be as minor as athlete’s foot and warts or as major as more serious complications that require amputation of toes or the entire foot. Some common foot injuries include:

• corns and calluses; noticeable because of yellowish skin
• ingrown toenails; noticeable by nails curling into skin
• Morton’s neuroma; noticeable because of cramping and burning pain
• Hammertoe; toes form in hammer or claw shape
• stress fracture; sudden and persistent pain
• flat feet; no arch
• Haglund’s deformity; painful swelling on back of heel caused by shoes

Foot injuries can often be difficult to diagnose and treat. Doctors have to be very knowledgeable about the 26 bones, 32 joints and more than 100 tendons, ligaments and muscles that make the foot. Misdiagnosis is a common occurrence. This includes misinterpreting X-rays, incorrectly fitting casts or splints, removing casts or splints too early, prescribing the wrong medication, not advising patients of all their options, not referring patients to specialists, and even performing unnecessary amputations. Medical malpractice attorneys can inform you of your rights regarding foot injuries and answer any questions you have.