Spinal cord injuries include all injuries to the spinal cord and nearby bones or tissues. The blunt force of a car accident can cause severe injuries to your spinal cord.
Spinal cord injuries typically have a long-term impact. If you suffered an SCI due to negligence, your compensation may cover the long road to recovery ahead.
The types of spinal cord injuries
There are two categories of spinal cord injuries. Incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries. If you have an incomplete SCI, your brain and body still communicate along specific pathways. You still have some function on one or both sides of your body.
Complete injuries, on the other hand, cause total paralysis beneath the injury. It will affect both sides of your body and can paralyze the lower half of your body or all limbs. Complete injuries tend to be permanent.
The long-term complications
Spinal cord injuries can limit your independence. Chronic conditions caused by SCIs alter how you live and work. Some complications include:
- Paralysis
- Loss of bladder control
- Heart problems
- Breathing trouble
- Poor temperature regulation
- Chronic pain
Long-term treatment for SCIs includes reducing chronic health conditions, restoring nerve function and enhancing your overall quality of life.
In many cases, you may need to use assistive devices. Severe injuries require you to use assistive devices for the rest of your life. Assistive devices may include walkers or wheelchairs.
Following an injury, rehabilitation may help you discover strategies to increase your independence and quality of life. Rehabilitation can require in-patient or out-patient stays, depending on the severity of your injury.