The heavy equipment he had to carry while in Afghanistan only made his injuries worse.

Spinal cord injury doctors know as well as anyone that foot soldiers often face injuries to their muscles and bones in the course of their regular duties. The great weight of their equipment only exacerbates the problems, making minor injuries worse and creating new injuries that will never completely heal.

Noncommissioned officers who have been through multiple tours in a combat zone are often the ones who suffer from these strains like herniated discs the most, according to doctors. These are also the ones who are most likely to feel loyalty to their units and they refuse to let younger and less experienced soldiers who have fewer injuries take their place.

“I had a choice. But I couldn’t leave my squad behind just before they were being deployed,” a staff sergeant from Joint Base Louis-McChord told a reporter. The sergeant served in Afghanistan for a year, even though he had injuries to his arm and rotator cuff.

The heavy equipment he had to carry while in Afghanistan only made his injuries worse. While patrolling in the Arghandab Valley in southern Afghanistan, there were times when his arm went completely numb.

“Basically, it comes down to: if you want to do your job – and you take pride in what you do – you’ve just got to suck it up,” said the 29-year-old sergeant.

He’s far from the only one who deals with injuries sustained from days upon days of carrying equipment that is too heavy. This is why it’s so important that spinal cord injury doctors keep up the fight for the rights of military personnel or anyone else who suffers from such lingering and debilitating conditions. Long Island and Manhattan hospitals keep track of these occurrences.

If you or a family member has suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of poor working conditions, a New York Spinal Injury Attorney can help you get the justice you deserve. A New York Spinal Injury Attorney will review your case and help you get the damages you’re looking for.