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Spinal Cord Injury Overview

Any harm inflicted upon the spinal vertebrae or spinal cord will result in spinal injuries. Spinal cord injury symptoms can be as minor as dull pain and as serious as limited mobility and even paralysis. Some sort of trauma is normally the culprit, or diseases such as polio and spina bifida may also contribute to spinal cord damage. In the US, auto accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injury, while others include falls, violent acts (e.g., bullet or stab wounds), and sports (e.g., skiing, horseback riding, surfing).

Vertebrae injury

Spinal vertebrae are boney spheres that encapsulate the spinal cord. The vertebrae can become fractured or dislocated when the victim's back or neck is subjected to trauma. The individual suffering a fracture or dislocation will usually feel pain in the region nearest to the damaged vertebrae in addition to pain that pulsates to the legs or other body parts. If the spinal cord is not harmed in the process, this person will not be paralyzed. Damaged vertebrae are first cared for by stabilizing the patient and restricting their movement. Extended rehabilitation involves bed rest, pain control, and physical therapy. It is not uncommon for victims of fractured or dislocated vertebrae to recover fully when the injury is treated properly.

Spinal cord injury

The spinal cord, which spans the middle of your back from the base of the brain down to your waist, contains countless nerves that serve as messengers of signals sent from the brain to other areas of the body. An injury to the spinal cord is either referred to as damaged (i.e. incomplete spinal cord injury) or completely severed (i.e. complete spinal cord injury). Someone who suffers an incomplete spinal cord injury may have some retention of motor and sensory skills below the site of the injury. On the contrary, the victim of a complete spinal cord injury will lose total function of the area beneath the level of the injury. Usually, an injury occurrence near the head and neck will have greater implications than one affecting the lower section of the spinal cord; lower spinal cord injuries may reduce mobility or paralyze the lower body. In turn, this may cause a loss of bladder and bowel control in addition to sexual performance complications. Upper spinal cord injuries may lead to paralysis from the neck down and respiratory difficulties. Symptoms caused by spinal nerve damage may include the inability to walk, move, or even speak. Some spinal cord injuries initially appear to be rather serious, but victims often attain a full recovery through successful treatment and exercise. Conversely, too many of these injuries also turn fatal.

Treatment

The first thing a physician treating a spinal cord injury tries to do is lessen the inflammation of the spinal cord, which simultaneously compresses the nerves. Swelling reduction may be accomplished through an operative procedure or steroid prescription. Long-term recuperation from such an injury typically calls for a substantial amount of rest, drug treatment, and physical therapy. It is sometimes recommended for spinal cord injury victims to visit a psychiatric professional to deal with the mental hardships that coincide with the injury.

Spinal cord injury liability

Someone may be held accountable for a spinal cord injury if it was their negligence, recklessness, or premeditated behavior that caused the injury to take place. If you or someone you love is the victim of a spinal cord injury at the hands of another, it is in your best interest to contact a spinal cord injury attorney at Morgan & Morgan immediately. Even if you are unsure whether anyone is to blame, our team of specialists will be happy to assist you with your case.