The month of September has been designated as “Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.” This time of year is used to inform the general public about spinal cord injuries. This includes spreading awareness about the severity of these types of injuries as well as the need for ongoing research to find a cure. September has been designated this way for nearly a decade.
Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries
It is no surprise that the spinal cord is an important part of our body, which carries messages between the brain and the rest of our body. When the spinal cord is injured, the result can be a partial or permanent disability or even a fatality. An injury to the spinal cord can cause changes to our autonomic, motor, and sensory functions. When a person suffers a spinal cord injury, the nerves above the damage continue to work normally, but messages from the brain are blocked from being transmitted to the location of the injury and the body below the spinal cord damage.
There are two types of spinal cord injuries, according to the Shepherd Center — complete and incomplete — both of which are serious injuries that can significantly impact a victim’s life.
An incomplete spinal cord injury occurs when there is partial damage to the person’s spinal cord. Oftentimes, the victim’s ability to move, as well as the amount of feeling they experience, is dependent upon the location of the spine injured and how severe the injury was. Consequently, the level of disability and rehabilitation outcomes varies among the patients. A complete spinal cord injury, on the other hand, results in permanent damage to the affected location of the spinal cord. The end result for the patient is either paralysis of the lower body and extremities (referred to as paraplegia) or paralysis of all limbs as well as the torso (referred to as quadriplegia).
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
The symptoms of a spinal cord injury can vary widely based on the severity and location of the harm. Moreover, not all symptoms appear right away. For this reason, anyone who is involved in an accident should seek medical attention immediately, no matter how minor or nonexistent they believe their injuries may be. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the most common spinal cord injury symptoms include:
- Loss of voluntary muscle movement;
- Weakness in the muscles;
- Breathing issues including difficulty coughing;
- Loss of or reduced feeling too hot, cold, and/or touch in the chest and/or extremities;
- Changes in sexual sensitivity, function, and fertility;
- Difficulty in bladder and bowel functions;
- Intense stinging sensation or pain near the injury or in the extremities.
The most common causes of spinal cord injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic, include car accidents, falls, sports/recreation injuries, alcohol use, diseases, and acts of violence.
Our Attorneys Can Help You
The attorneys at H&P Law understand the seriousness of spinal cord injuries and their effect on the victim. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another, contact our experienced attorneys right away. We have successfully fought for monetary compensation on behalf of the injured in Las Vegas and throughout the state of Nevada. Contact us today.
