Larry Karam, lead attorney of The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, P.C., has spent decades handling cases involving all types of podiatry malpractice, including those involving the terrible consequences of nerve damage. It is worth noting that Larry has a track record of positive outcomes, both in and out of the courtroom.
If you have suffered nerve damage as a result of your podiatrist’s surgical error or as the result of your podiatrist’s misdiagnosis of the cause of your neuropathy, you may well be entitled to sue for podiatric malpractice and to recover meaningful compensation. Contact Larry today to discuss your legal options. He will charge you no attorney’s fees until he wins compensation for you.
Nerve Damage Caused by Surgical Mistakes
Surgical mistakes are not as rare as you may think. In podiatry surgery, extreme caution must be taken to prevent “nicking” or severing a nerve with a surgical instrument. Even making contact with a nerve can result in damaging inflammation.
A damaged nerve in the foot can result in numbness, weakness, or pain. There may also be visible signs of nerve damage, such as color changes to the skin around the nerve, lessening of adjacent muscles, and alterations in patterns of perspiration.
While some minor nerve injuries can improve with time, other nerve injuries require surgical repair or are permanently damaged. Even in cases in which improvement is likely, nerve fibers take a long time to regenerate, and patients may suffer for months without relief. This is also true after surgical repairs. It can take a very long time for nerves to be fully responsive after a reparative operation.
Nerves damaged by surgical podiatric mistakes can complicate the patient’s life in several ways. If they lose sensation in part of the foot, they may develop sores, blisters, or infections that worsen badly before they become aware of them. This can lead to serious, systemic repercussions. If the damage is to a motor instead of a sensory nerve, the patient may have difficulty or pain when standing or walking.
Peripheral Neuropathy and Its Symptoms
Neuropathy can affect a sensory or motor nerve in the foot, so the symptoms of the disorder are many and varied, including:
- Loss of sensation
- Prickling or tingling
- Sharp, stabbing, freezing, burning, or throbbing pain
- Numbness or a pins and needles sensation
- Poor coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Extreme sensitivity to touch (e.g. pain from the weight of a sheet on the toes)
- Phantom sensations (e.g. as if you have socks on when your feet are bare)
- Loss of balance and/or coordination
These symptoms are disturbing and intrusive, most often leading the patient experiencing them to their podiatrist.
When a Podiatrist Misdiagnoses Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy results from damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord that typically cause weakness, numbness, pain, and other symptoms in the hands and feet. There are a great many possible causes of the disorder, but if your podiatrist carelessly assumes that your neuropathy is simply the result of an accident or repetitive stress without further exploration, and you become ill as a result, you may be a victim of podiatric malpractice.
Responsible Podiatrists Have to Consider Alternative Causes of Neuropathy
Failure of your podiatrist to consider other potential causes of your neuropathy can be disastrous since such a mistake can allow one of the following conditions to worsen:
- Autoimmune diseases (e.g. diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,)
- Infections such as Lyme disease, shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C, HIV
- Kidney, liver, thyroid, or connective tissue disease
- Certain types of cancer that can metastasize
- Vascular disorders that deprive nerve cells of oxygen
- Inherited disorders (most commonly, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)
- Morton’s neuroma which may require surgery
At worst, this kind of error can lead to infection, more severe illness, metastasis, amputation, or even death.
When It Comes to Your Nerve Damage Case, Larry Karam Will Do the Heavy Lifting
Because peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a number of conditions that can worsen without proper treatment, by delaying proper diagnosis and failing to refer you to the right specialist, your podiatrist may have breached their duty of care to you and therefore be liable for damages. In order to prove that your claim of malpractice is well-founded, Larry will:
- Examine medical records
- Locate and interview any witnesses
- Gather expert medical testimony to support your case
- Draft all necessary court documents
- Handle all communications with the opposing attorney and insurance company
Most importantly, Larry will develop a well-crafted strategy designed for productive negotiations and, if necessary, aggressive litigation.
Nerve Damage Larry Karam Will Fight to Recover
Once you become our client, Larry will provide you with moral as well as legal support. You can rely on him to fight vigorously to bring you the damages you need to restart your life, including compensation for:
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Lost income, present and future
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you have been through the trauma of losing a loved one to wrongful death due to podiatric malpractice, Larry will stand by you, working tirelessly to help you recover damages for final medical costs, funeral expenses, and, if applicable, the loss of companionship and financial support.
Contact Our Experienced Nerve Damage Podiatry Malpractice Attorney Today
At The Law Firm of Lawrence M. Karam, P.C. we know that emotional distress accompanies the physical pain of being a victim of podiatric malpractice. It is terrible to realize that the podiatrist you trusted with your health has made a mistake that may have lifelong negative consequences for you, your work, and your family. Contact us now so we can begin fighting to bring you the justice you deserve.