Spinal Cord Injury – Understanding the Symptoms & Treatment

A spinal cord injury is often catastrophic and can affect your quality of life. If you have experienced a spinal cord injury resulting from a car accident, fall, assault or other tragic event, you need to be aware of the various symptoms and treatment options.

When many people think about spinal cord injuries, Christopher Reeve comes to mind. He fell off a horse in 1995, which caused severe injury to his spinal cord. This accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. He became one of the most famous faces associated with spinal cord injuries. Reeve became an advocate and raised public awareness, which consequently increased funding for spinal cord injuries. Today, scientists are hopeful that there will be medical advances to eventually repair injured spinal cords.

According to MayoClinic.com, the majority of spinal cord injuries lead to permanent disability or loss of movement, known as paralysis, and sensation below the site of the injury. When most of the body is paralyzed, including the arms and legs, it is known as quadriplegia. A spinal cord injury that only affects the lower body is known as paraplegia.

Symptoms of Spinal Cord Damage
It is important to understand and recognize the symptoms of spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury may include any of the following warning signs:

• Pain in the spinal cord
• Inability to move
• Loss of sensation
• Inability to control the bowel or bladder
• Spasms
• Breathing difficulty
• Oddly positioned neck or back

A spinal cord injury can be partial or complete. Partial spinal cord injuries allow you to retain some sensation and motor function below the injury site. A complete spinal cord injury refers to the complete loss of motor function and sensation below the injury. However, even with a complete spinal cord injury, it is rare for the spine to be completely severed.

Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury
After you have been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury, your doctor will focus on preventing future complications, such as urinary tract difficulty, bowel management problems, pressure sores, pulmonary embolism and breathing problems. If you have a spinal cord injury, your doctor will provide you with treatment options that will help you experience a productive life within the limits of your disability. Recent medical advances have even allowed many individuals with partial spinal cord injuries to improve their chances of recovery.

Compensation for Spinal Cord Injury Cases
Depending on the cause of your spinal cord injury, you may be able to receive compensation. If your spinal cord injury was the result of another person’s negligence, you may be able to recover monetary damages, which could include medical expenses, lost wages, both past and present, pain and suffering and other costs associated with your injury. Contact William K. Saron, an experienced Florida serious accident attorney, at (727) 345-4566 or (866) 836-4947 for expert legal advice regarding your spinal cord injury case.