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How To Recover From Elbow Or Wrist Injuries

The elbow and the wrist are two complex, critical joints in the human arm. When one or both of these joints is injured, an individual can be temporarily or permanently unable to perform everyday tasks like driving, working on a computer, cooking and writing.

The wrist comprises eight bones, nine long tendons, two groups of muscles known as flexors and extensors, and ligaments that connect the bones to each other to ensure the ability to move the wrist. The elbow is made up of three bones, two muscles and two main ligaments. A wrist injury can impact an individual’s use of his or her hand, and an elbow injury can impact his or her use of the entire arm. When an individual suffers a wrist or elbow injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, he or she may file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for any damages he or she suffered because of the injury, such as medical bills and reduced quality of life because of the injury.

Ways To Injure Elbows And Wrists

Elbow and wrist injuries can result from any type of accident. Often, injuries occur because the victim landed on his or her elbow or wrist, the elbow or wrist suffered a direct blow, or because the elbow or wrist was forced beyond its normal range of motion, causing the bones to break or the soft tissue to stretch and tear.

Appleton elbow and wrist injuries can occur in the following types of accident:

  • Slips and falls
  • Car accidents
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Sports accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Dog bites
  • Injuries involving projectile or falling objects
  • Acts of medical malpractice

Types Of Elbow And Wrist Injuries

Wrist injuries, like injuries to all other parts of the body, can be fairly minor or quite severe. They include:

  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Fractures
  • Dislocations
  • Compartment syndrome, which occurs when the wrist is crushed and inflammation occurs in a closed area. This can lead to reduced blood flow and fluid buildup

The elbow can suffer many of the same injuries as the wrist, such as sprains, dislocations, strains and fractures. Other elbow injuries an accident victim can suffer include bursitis, an injury to one of the fluid-filled sacs between the bones and other moving parts of the elbow.

Long-term Complications

If you are involved in any type of accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Do this even if you do not believe you were injured – you could have a small injury that can become severe if left untreated.

When an elbow or wrist injury is not treated promptly or appropriately, the victim can suffer one or more of the following complications:

  • Chronic pain and stiffness
  • Loss of sensation in the affected area
  • An improperly healed fracture that must be re-broken and reset
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Loss of strength in the affected area

Seeking Compensation For Damages

Through a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for the following damages:

  • Your medical bills
  • Your lost wages
  • Your pain and suffering damages

In order to recover compensation for these damages, you have to prove not only that you experienced them, but also that the other party caused them by acting in a negligent manner. This is where evidence collected from the scene of the accident comes into play. Using testimonies of the event, photographs of the event and the official accident report if one exists, you can demonstrate exactly what happened and who caused it to happen. You will also need evidence that shows your diagnosis, prognosis, and the length of time you will be out of work and how it translates to lost earnings.

Recovering from an elbow or wrist injury can involve physical therapy. Your doctor can refer you to a physical therapist. In Green Bay, a few local options are ATI Physical Therapy and Advanced Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine. In physical therapy, the patient rebuilds muscle and regains range of motion in an injured area through massage and specific exercises.

Work With Us

When you are facing expenses like high medical bills and the prospect of leaving work for a long period of time after being injured in an accident that could have been prevented, consider working with an experienced Appleton personal injury lawyer to pursue monetary compensation for those expenses through a personal injury claim. To learn more, contact our team online or call 920-202-8872.