Spinal cord injuries can be devastating and life-altering for a victim. They are commonly the result of auto accidents but can also occur as the result of a serious fall. If you have suffered an injury to the spinal cord, it is likely that your life has been forever changed. These injuries can impact a victim financially, physically, and emotionally.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
An injury to the spinal cord consists of damage to any part of the spinal cord or the nerves that can be found at the end of the spinal canal. Damage to the spinal cord can block communication between the brain and the body. A spinal cord injury can affect a person’s sensation and bodily functions below the site of the injury. The severity of an injury to the spinal cord is based on its completeness. Complete injuries result in a loss of all feeling and sensation below the site of the injury. Individuals with an incomplete injury may have some degree of control or sensation below the injury site.
Injuries to the spinal cord often result in some degree of paralysis. Tetraplegia, or quadriplegia, occurs when the arms, hands, trunk, legs, and feet have all be affected by the injury. Paraplegia occurs when part of the trunk and the legs are affected. The higher up an injury occurs along the spinal cord, the more likely there will be extensive damage and tetraplegia.
Treatment for a Spinal Cord Injury
Immediately following an injury to the spinal cord, a victim will usually be hospitalized for several months. After they are released from the hospital, they face a long road of treatment that will likely involve extensive physical therapy. Some victims of these injuries make progress and can recover some function with physical and occupational therapy. However, for many victims, the effects of a spinal cord injury are permanent and lead to life-long difficulties and the need for extensive care.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has sustained a spinal cord injury as the result of someone’s negligence, you may want to consult with a personal injury attorney. Gregg Goldfarb has over 20 years of experience helping the injured. Contact him online or call 305-374-7000 to schedule a free consultation.