A car accident crash may lead to a spinal cord injury. The spinal cord acts as the primary medium of transmitting information in the whole body. A spinal cord injury may result in pain that is mild to severe depending on the type of injury. A spinal cord injury lawyer may help you make a claim for money compensation after being injured in a car accident crash.
The spinal cord is made up of a collection of nerves that are spread from the bottom of the skull down to the hips. The electrical impulses carried by the bundle of nerves to other parts of the body are referred to as neutrons. When you sense pain after an accident it is often a result of the spinal cord receiving messages from the brain.
Surrounded by vertebrae bones that work towards safeguarding the backbone, the spinal cord is highly sensitive and is made up of nerves that transmit neurons to the brain and other parts of the body. The neurons take control of the muscles and alert them when action is required.
Because the spinal cord is highly sensitive, any damage to the backbone could stop the transmission of information for a moment or longer. How long depends on the intensity of the damage to the spinal cord. Anything– vehicle accidents, falls, wrestling that went wrong, disease – can cause spinal injury. It just has to break through the vertebrae’s protective casing and reach the internal spinal cord.
Complete and Incomplete Spine Injury?
More damage is caused to the spine if the injury is situated higher up your spinal column. The injuries could be categorized as “complete” or “incomplete” depending on the feeling and motion that is below the injury site.
An incomplete injury implies that the superhighway remains partly in place. There is still a possibility of data reaching the brain. You could make a toe wiggle or feel sensation in a portion of your arm. On the other hand, a full injury implies you feel nothing below the injury site. On rare occasions, surgery can be used to alleviate nervous tension on the spine. Nonetheless, the findings differ extensively, and the healing process varies for each individual.
Some extent of the injury could lead to sensation loss in some parts of the body; difficulty with movement, failure to control bowels or the bladder, inability to take charge of your sexual roles; pain or stinging feeling, as well as seizures.
Historically, a severe injury to the spinal cord often led to the death of the victims as physicians could not handle the other health issues that showed up after a spinal injury.
The situation changed after World War II, as it is now possible for patients that have incomplete injuries to recover due to the continual research of pharmaceutical and mobility aid systems.
Measures have been put in place to help spinal injury patients return to a healthy life. These procedures include epidural stimulation, rehabilitation exercise, and electrical stimulation. However, it is the responsibility of those who surround patients with spinal cord injuries to help them return to a healthy life.
Spinal cord injury levels, function, and symptoms
The findings may be very distinct, depending on where your spinal injury is located:
- Cervical injuries located higher up the spine (C1-C4 vertebrae) are considered the most severe because:
- There is a need for patients to access 24/7 care.
- Paralysis of the arm, hand, leg, and trunk can (quadriplegia).
- The patient may need assistance to breathe.
- The ability of the patient to talk or cough may be impaired.
- The patient may experience difficulty controlling their bowels or guts.
- Cervical injuries located lower on the spine (C5-C8 vertebrae):
- The nervous system at that point is responsible for controlling hands and arms.
- There may be a tingling feeling and pain.
- Partial or complete paralysis in the torso, limbs, or hands.
- Patients can breathe and talk without help, although significant effort will be required.
- Little or no control to the bladder or bowels.
- Thoracic injuries (T1-T5):
- Upper neck muscles and those in the middle of the back as well as the abdominal area.
- The arms and hands of the patient remain normal.
- The trunk and legs are influenced by injuries, leading to paraplegia.
- Thoracic injuries (T6-T12):
- The upper part of the body still functions ordinarily, while the lower body experiences some dysfunction, usually paraplegia.
- Decreased bowel or fluid control, or none at all.
- Lumbar injuries (L1-L5):
- The lower limbs of the patient may not function properly.
- The patient may experience difficulty controlling bowels or the bladder.
- Sacral injuries (S1-S5):
- The lower limbs may be impaired in their functions.
- Patients do not have control of the bladder or bowels.
- It is likely for patients to walk.
What happens after a spinal cord injury?
It is hard to manage a spinal cord injury, but you should look out for other health issues that may arise, as well.
A range of things could happen; muscle atrophy (deconditioning of the muscles), dysfunction of sexual system, and circulation or breathing trouble. You may need to wear clothing that compresses your limbs and facilitates blood flow. Furthermore, a spinal injury can cause emotional trauma, and you may experience situational depression.
Having a caregiver in health circumstances like this may be vital. Even if, for instance, you “just” have a sacral injury, you will still find it difficult to adjust to your new life.
Data and Resources
Injuries to the spinal cord are not always immediately apparent, they may cause pain later on. If you believe you have experienced a spinal cord injury, make no movement. Make sure to dial 911 while staying still to get the help necessary. Have people on both sides of your throat with heavy towels to stabilize you while you wait for medical assistance to arrive. Meanwhile, carry out basic first aid with as little movement as possible as you await for 911 assistance.
Injuries to the spinal cord are weakening and may prove challenging to handle.