New treatments and tests for accident caused injuries

Until fairly recently, if you were injured in an accident, the ability of doctors to correctly diagnose your injuries and provide meaningful treatment were limited by the then available medical knowledge and diagnostic tools. Unfortunately for people who suffered serious, long term or  permanent injuries, medical science was unable to effectively treat people who suffered long term pain that could not be identified on an x-ray or other diagnostic test. With the advent of MRI, medical science made a leap forward in the ability of doctors to identify injury and damage to the soft tissues of the body: vertebral discs, nerves, ligaments and muscles. But even with MRI, too many people fell through the cracks of medical science. Those who were not considered candidates for surgery and who were not helped with medication and physical therapy, were frequenty left with permanent pain with no solution for relief. Worse, insurance companies did not consider permanent pain if it was not accompanied by an “objective” injury that showed up on an x-ray, MRI or other scientific test.

Now, we have “Motion” MRI machines that are able to explain why people have pain even though a standard MRI may not show an abnormality. Pain management specialists have unique skills in diagnosing and treating injuries and conditions that were not well understood several years ago. These new tests and specialties have made a profound difference, not only in providing pain relief for seriously injured people, they have made it possible to prove to insurance companies and juries the nature and severity of chronic pain.

If you have reached an plateau in your recovery from your injuries in your accident, speak to your doctor and your lawyer about some of the new advances in medical care.