A spinal cord injury occurs when any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end spinal canal get damaged, which can result in permanent changes in strength and crucial body functions. The effects of spinal cord injury are very severe, and you can feel the impact emotionally, socially, and mentally. Many things can lead to this condition, some of which can be avoided. If you are misdiagnosed and surgery complications occur, you can get compensation by contacting a specialist spine injury lawyer to help you file a lawsuit. The damages caused can impair you, and you might fail to work normally as you used to hence the need to get compensated. This article will explore ways in which spinal cord injuries occur.
Symptoms
The spinal cord injury can be severe and affects your ability to move your limbs., However, such effects will depend on the severity of the damage and when it occurs. After an injury, you will need to be evaluated for the neurological level of your injury. This is the lowest part of your spinal cord that remains undamaged. Additionally, the severity of the damage is classified into complete and incomplete levels. For the complete class, all your ability to control movement is lost below the spinal cord injury. Only some sensory functions and motor abilities are affected in the incomplete case. Additionally, you can incur tetraplegia and paraplegia, paralysis from the spinal cord.
Ways Spinal Cord Injury Affects the Body
When you have a spinal cord injury, most body function can be paralyzed, and returning to normalcy can be difficult. A damaged spinal cord can affect the following:
- Sensations
- Bladder and Bowel functions
- Breathing
- Heart Rate
- Metabolism
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries often occur from damage to spinal column discs, vertebrae, and ligaments. Additionally, it can occur due to a knife wound that penetrates and cuts your spinal cord. Moreso, a traumatic blow to your spine that dislocates, fractures, and compresses one of your vertebrae will lead to spinal injuries. Other common causes include
Motor VehicleAccidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. Most people involved in fatal car accidents end up having a spinal injury.
Sports Injuries
Some sports can lead to spinal cord injuries. Playing games such as impact sports and diving, especially in shallow water, you have a high probability of spinal injuries.
Surgical Complication
Medical malpractice is one of the causes of spinal injuries. This is due to the doctor’s negligence in diagnosing and properly conducting the surgeries.
Falls
Falls that lead to fatal spinal cord injury often occurs in individuals above 65 years of age.
Diseases
Many diseases can lead to spinal cord injury. Some of these causes include osteoporosis, arthritis, cancer, and spinal cord inflammation.
It’s important to note that injuries and damages can occur over days due to swelling, bleeding, and fluid accumulation around your spinal cord. Non-traumatic spinal cord injury can be caused by arthritis, cancer, disk degeneration, and spine inflammation.
Wrapping Up:
The above are the causes of spinal cord injury. Looking for a lawyer to represent you in case of malpractice or negligence by another person that leads to spinal cord injuries is essential.
