Everyone knows that a severe spinal cord injury can lead to permanent paralysis. Unfortunately, what people don’t know is that spinal cord injuries can range from severe to minor. Recognizing the symptoms of a spinal cord injury can assist in getting a person to proper medical treatment in the shortest amount of time.
CAUSES OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Of course, the list of things that could potentially cause a spinal cord injury is limited only by one’s imagination, but there are some things that more frequently lead to spinal cord injuries. These include:
- motor vehicle collisions,
- construction site injuries,
- falls,
- acts of violence,
- sports activities,
- recreational injuries, and
- disease.
You may not be surprised to learn that alcohol has historically been a contributing factor in approximately one out of every four diagnosed injuries to the spinal cord.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF A SPINAL CORD INJURY
Immediately after an accident, one might observe some signs that a spinal cord injury may have occurred. These signs may include the following.
- Twisted back
- Back in odd position
- Twisted neck
- Neck in an odd position
- Difficulty with balance
- Walking difficulties
- Loss of control of bowels or bladder
- Loss of sensation
- Tingling in fingers, toes, hands, or feet
- Numbness in fingers, toes, hands, or feet
Any of these symptoms means medical attention should be sought out immediately.
RECOGNIZING THE SYMPTOMS OF A SPINAL CORD INJURY
Spinal cord injuries vary in their impact on a person’s subsequent ability to move their arms and legs. The nature of a spinal cord injury is based on the severity and location of the injury. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include the following:
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing to clear secretions from the lungs
- Pain caused by damage to nerve fibers
- Reflex actions that are exaggerated
- Spasms
- Altered sensation
- Loss of ability to feel touch, heat, and cold
- Increased ability to feel touch, heat, and cold
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of movement
DO NOT POSTPONE MEDICAL CARE
When you suspect a spinal cord injury, time is of the essence. The length of time someone waits between injury and medical care can impact the extent of the injury. It can also impact the extent one can recover from the spinal cord injury. Finally, a time delay may impact the severity of subsequent complications attributed to the spinal cord injury.
SEEK LEGAL ADVICE
After you have sought medical treatment for a spinal cord injury, it is a good idea to seek a legal opinion as well. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At Frost & Kavanaugh, we don’t charge a fee to discuss whether you have a viable claim. Instead, we only collect a fee if we win your case. Call us at (518) 730-4222 to discuss your situation today.