Although largely preventable, nerve damage can cause serious long-term issues for patients. Medical providers can prevent nerve damage by following proper technique and providing careful patient monitoring.
Symptoms
- Numbness or tingling after surgery
- Shooting pain or burning sensation
- Weakness in a limb
- Loss of movement
- Persistent loss of sensation
Some patients may notice symptoms immediately after surgery, while others may develop them over hours or days. In more severe cases, patients may experience complete paralysis of an arm, leg, or facial muscle. These problems can significantly affect mobility and quality of life.
What causes nerve damage during anesthesia?
Providers may fail to properly pad or position the patient, which can cause nerves to be compressed by hard surfaces, equipment, or excessive stretching. Failure to monitor positioning throughout long surgeries or ignoring patient complaints during regional anesthesia can also contribute to nerve injury.
If nerve-blocking procedures are being done on a patient, incorrect needle placement or injecting medication into the wrong tissue can damage nerves directly.
Serious injuries caused by nerve damage during anesthesia
While some patients experience temporary symptoms that resolve over months, others may develop chronic pain from nerve damage. Permanent nerve paralysis may affect mobility or hand function, limiting a person’s ability to work or perform daily activities.
In some of the more extreme cases, nerve injuries can lead to Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a severe and poorly understood pain disorder that may require lifelong management. If spinal nerves are injured, it can lead to a severe loss of bowel control.
When medical professionals don’t follow standard positioning protocols or administer anesthesia correctly, patients may suffer life-changing harm. The physical, emotional, and financial damage of a nerve injury can be significant, often requiring physical therapy, pain management, and possibly long-term disability accommodations. Weisser Law is here to help patients determine whether the injury was avoidable and pursue compensation for their losses.
Contact Weisser Law today to schedule your free consultation.