When you have nerve damage after a dog bite injury, you will experience numbness, tingling, burning, or pain signals from your nervous system. In severe dog bite injury cases, nerve damage may affect movement, balance, or organ function.
In some cases, medical treatment and certain surgeries can promote healing or reduce the symptoms. Follow your medical team’s advice on pain management, trigger avoidance, and their recommendations for physical therapy.
Understanding Your Nerve Injury After a Dog Bite
Although your physician may have explained your nerve damage after a dog bite, the shock of your injuries may have made it difficult to absorb the information. There are several types of nerve damage that can occur, including:
- Neuropraxia: The compression or stretching force of the dog bite means that the affected nerves are unable to transmit normal signals. There is a strong likelihood that your nerves will heal over time.
- Axonotmesis: Nerve fibers (axons) are damaged, but the outer nerve sheath (myelin sheath) is not damaged. Although it takes time and can leave you struggling with symptoms for months, there is a good chance of natural recovery.
- Neurotmesis: A nerve is severed by crushing or tearing. In some instances, surgical repair is possible, but there is a chance of permanent damage, ongoing symptoms, and loss of movement.
Some nerve fibers relay sensory information to the brain, and others relay motor information from the brain to the body. This means that you can have motor nerve damage, sensory nerve damage, or both, depending on the nerve fibers affected.
Potential For Lasting Damage After Nerve Damage From a Dog Bite Injury
Nerve damage after dog bite injuries is comparatively rare. Nerve and vascular damage are cited in around 4.7% of dog bite injury cases. Most dog bites are not deep enough to affect nerves.
Unfortunately, deep bites and crushing force are known for their potential to cause nerve damage, and infection can also play a role. The risk is particularly high when bites affect nerve-dense areas. These include the arms, hands, face, and neck.
When a dog bite compresses or stretches a nerve without severing its fibers, you will need a few weeks or months to recover. Partially damaged nerves can heal, but they do not always heal completely. You may experience long-term or permanent weakness, numbness, or pain.
There may still be hope for recovery even when nerves are severed or severely crushed. When repair is possible, your medical team may recommend surgery. Nevertheless, as orthopedic literature published in OrthoInfo reports, some or all of the damage may be permanent, resulting in lifelong impairment.
What You Can Do to Overcome the Challenges Nerve Damage Poses
Even mild dog bite injuries can lead to medical complications if left untreated. If a dog bites you, see a doctor immediately. When you have nerve damage after a dog bite, the consequences are painful, and both your financial and personal life may be affected.
In California, dog owners are usually considered liable for any injuries their pets cause. It is an especially important consideration when you face serious injuries or complications and lengthy recovery times. Our San Diego dog bite lawyer will seek the maximum possible compensation that may be due to you.
Although this will not undo your injury, it can help you pay for the medical treatments you need, compensate you for lost earnings, and mitigate the personal and financial impact of long-term impairment.