Spinal Cord Injuries

Hundredsof thousands of people live with the effects of spinal cord injuries inthe United States.In fact, it is estimated that there are nearly 400,000 spinal cord injuryvictims who experience a wide range of symptoms, from mild discomforts toserious mobility limitations.

Why are spinal cordinjuries so devastating?

Thespinal cord is a vital component of the human body. As part of the centralnervous system, the spinal cord and its nerve fibers help carry messages fromthe brain to the rest of the body, allowing people to think, move, feel,breathe and generally function in a “normal” capacity.

Whenthe spinal cord is injured, the flow of information to the brain can becomedistorted or even stopped. The actual location of the injury site on the spineis very important in determining how severe the spinal cord injury will be tothe victim. Body functions below the injury site will be adversely affected,while those above the site are generally spared any harm. In short, the higherthe spinal injury is on the body, the worse the prognosis.

Are there varyingdegrees of spinal cord injury?

Yes.A spinal cord injury can be complete or partial, leaving the victim with a widerange of symptoms.

• Complete spinal cord injury: There is a complete loss of movement and sensation (paralysis) below the injury site. This can occur whether or not the spinal cord is actually severed.
• Partial spinal cord injury: Only partial loss of movement or sensation occurs below the injury site.

Besides paralysis,what are other spinal cord injury symptoms?

Spinalcord injuries can have overwhelming and upsetting effects on the victim. Completingeven daily tasks can become difficult and even impossible when the victimsuffers from symptoms such as:

• Pain
• Coordination loss
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of bladder of bowel control
• Loss of full movement or sensation
• Sexual changes or limitations
• Spasms

What can cause aspinal cord injury?  

Anytrauma or blow to the spinal cord can result in potentially serious consequences.However, even internal forces within the body can damage the spinal cord. Someof the leading causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents: The leading cause of spinal cord injuries, accounting for as much as 50% of all such injuries.
• Violent acts: Unfortunate encounters with guns and knives can result in injury to the spinal cord.   
• Disease: Situations such as cancer, arthritis, infections and inflammation can wreak havoc on the spinal cord.
• Slips and falls: The elderly and children are at a higher risk for these accidents.
• Sports-related accidents: Diving into unknown depths, contact sports and even trampoline falls can be devastating.

Muchlike traumatic brain injury, the effects of spinal cord injuries on thevictims as well as their families can make rehabilitation a stressful andfinancially difficult task. When the injury is caused by negligence of anotherperson, physician, company or medical facility, the victim has the right to seekcompensation for damages.