Motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports incidents and numerous other causes sometimes cause traumatic blows to the spine. The resulting spinal cord injuries often require emergent treatment and ongoing care to help people manage the resulting symptoms.
Having an understanding of what to expect from their injuries may help people and their families prepare and cope.
Injury completeness
According to MayoClinic.org, injury completeness refers to the severity of spinal cord injuries. Incomplete injuries include those in which people retain some sensory or motor functions below the injury site. Those with complete spinal cord injuries lose all movement control and feeling below the injury.
Spinal cord injury symptoms
Depending on the type, location, severity and other factors, spinal cord injuries may cause ranging symptoms and effects. Some of the most common of these include the following:
- Paralysis
- Altered or lost sense of feeling
- Pain
- Intense stinging sensation
- Spasms or exaggerated reflexes
As a result of changes in how the body functions due to these and other effects, people who suffer spinal cord injuries sometimes develop additional issues such as loss of bowel or bladder control.
Complications
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, medical complications often occur due to the effects of spinal cord injuries. For instance, bowel and bladder dysfunction may result in an increased risk of developing issues such as urinary tract and kidney infections.
When spinal cord injuries occur as a result of accidents caused by the negligence of others, people may have grounds to pursue legal action. Therefore, those in such circumstances may find it helpful to consult with an attorney to discuss their options for seeking financial compensation for their injury-associated losses.
