Nerve Damage After Surgery

Going under the knife is never a minor procedure. Statistics show that 15 million Americans have surgery every year. These procedures may happen on any part of the body.

There’s a lot that can go on during an operation. The surgeon, anesthesiologist, nurse, or other staff member could cause the patient to suffer harm. One issue that could occur is nerve damage.

There are two issues that could lead to nerve damage:

• A physical error by a surgeon or staff. Often, surgeons must operate in close proximity to nerves. Contact between a surgical instrument and a nerve can lead to damage. It’s possible that an accidental severing or slicing of a nerve could occur.
• An error during administration of anesthesia. There are three different types of anesthesia. Local anesthesia is administered with a syringe, so it’s important to avoid direct contact between the syringe and a nerve. Regional anesthesia generally involves injection of an anesthetic into the spinal column, which contains a dense concentration of nerves that could be damaged when injecting the regional anesthetic. General anesthesia affects the entire body and can cause nerve damage, since the body cannot sense discomfort.

Signs of Nerve Damage

Tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, or burning are the most common signs and symptoms of nerve damage after surgery.

Numbness is the most annoying and troubling problem caused after surgery. It is basically losing sensation in a particular area of the body that affects a person’s lifestyle. Usually, it feels like pins and needles. The severe condition of tingling and numbness is complicated to deal with.

There are several causes for numbness and tingling after surgery. Those who have experienced anesthesia during surgery are more likely to face these symptoms. It is utilized by injecting medicine around the cluster of nerves to block pain. During surgery, one does not feel pain sensations due to these medicines, so these medicines are specifically given to cause numbness. This kind of numbness can exist for several hours after surgery. In some cases, it exists for days.

Contact Us Today 

A surgical procedure can result in nerve damage. If a doctor’s negligence was to blame, seek legal help right away.

The Tampa medical malpractice lawyers at Greco & Wozniak P.A. can help you prove liability, causation, and damages. These cases are complex, but we can help. To schedule a consultation with our office, call (813) 223-7849 or fill out the online form.

Source:

facs.org/for-patients/strong-for-surgery/#:~:text=Every%20year%2C%2015%20million%20Americans,important%20role%20in%20your%20recovery.