Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that support cells attached to the brain. It is responsible for communicating messages back and forth from the brain to the body. When the spinal cord is injured, it can result in long-term or permanent injuries. Partial or complete paralysis is a common consequence of many spinal cord injuries. There are also more likely to be permanent changes in muscle strength, sensation, and body functions beneath the site of the injury. Spinal cord injuries occur when a blow is sustained in that area. Car accidents, gun shot and knife wounds are all possible events that might cause a traumatic spinal cord injury.

A non-traumatic spinal cord injury can be a result of cancer, arthritis, an infection, or disk degeneration of the spine. After the initial incident affecting the spinal cord, further damage is possible and likely due to bleeding, swelling, and fluid accumulation around the spinal cord. About 4,500 people suffer partial paralysis, or paraplegia, every year. Paraplegia is usually when an individual loses motor functions in the lower half of the body. The condition results from a spinal cord injury to the lumbar region of the spine, affecting the legs, bowels and bladder control, and sexual function. Total paralysis, or quadriplegia, occurs when the damage to the spinal cord is in the torso area. This type of injury can affect the functions and movement of almost the entire body.

An individual suffering from quadriplegia generally loses control of all body parts below the neck. It can even be difficult to breath in severe cases. The impact of a spinal cord injury is serious and the consequences are severe for the injured individual. The stress associated with a long-term or permanent injury of this nature can worsen with the financial, emotional, and psychological pain associated with motion impairment or immobility. If you believe that you are a recipient of a spinal cord injury due to a workplace injury or negligent third-party, call an attorney in your area to help find you the compensation you deserve.