Joints are places where two bones meet each other, and they help to make the skeleton flexible. Without joints, moving our body would be impossible. Flexible joints have a lining of cartilage on top of the bones, and ligaments are what join bones together to help make the joint even more stable. Cartilage is a strong substance that allows the joint surfaces to move easily, and cartilage helps limit wear and tear on the joints.
The most common joint injury is a joint dislocation. A joint dislocates when the ends of the bones are forced from their normal position. Dislocations are often caused by falls and require immediate medical attention. Common areas of joint dislocations are shoulders, hips, and fingers.
A severe dislocation can cause tearing of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support the joint. Symptoms of joint dislocation include swelling, pain, and immobility of the affected joint. If you’ve dislocated a joint, you should seek medical attention immediately. You may be given medication to reduce the pain and swelling, and in severe cases, you may need surgery to correct the joint problem.
Questions About Joint Injuries
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How Do Joint Injuries Happen?
Joint injuries can occur as a result of:
- Auto accidents
- Work accidents
- Construction accidents
- Sports injuries
Injuries to joints such as the shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, and wrist are often overlooked when determining damages in personal injury claims because sometimes the injury is not obvious. However, the consequences of these injuries can be severe, leading to future health problems which require costly medical treatment. For some people, they can even result in the need for a new career because the chronic pain and steady degeneration of the joint prevent them from performing the tasks of their current jobs.
With the range-of-motion limitations that accompany many joint injuries, surgery is often necessary to correct the condition. If a serious personal injury caused by the negligence of another has left you with joint problems, the West Virginia personal injury lawyer at Jim Leach Attorneys at Law can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
An experienced joint injury lawyer can help you with the following joint problems:
- Ankle problems due to slip and fall accidents.
- Repetitive stress problems in the wrists, shoulders or elbows.
- Shoulder problems such as rotator cuff injuries.
For additional information, please read our Joint Injury Questions page.
If you have been an accident victim, our joint injury attorneys can fight on your behalf. We can deal with the insurance company adjusters to ensure that you receive fair and reasonable compensation for your injury.
Please contact our West Virginia personal injury lawyers today to schedule your free initial consultation.