A spinal cord injury often occurs from a sudden traumatic blow to the spine that fractures, dislocates or compresses vertebrae, ligaments or bone disks. These types of injuries often come with permanent changes in sensation, strength, and other body functions below the site of the injury. Although scientific advancements have helped those who suffer from severe spinal cord injuries, we’re still a far ways from fully understanding and healing those who are injured.
Spinal Cord Injury Causes
Although there are a number of ways you can injure your spinal cord, these are some of the most common:
- Vehicle accidents: Car, truck and motorcycle accidents are leading causes of spinal cord injuries. In accidents such as these, there is often a neck and head jerking reaction that occurs, making it easy to hurt and injure your spine. For motorcyclists, it is even worse because they are less protected and end up feeling the full force of the collision.
- Slip and falls: For the elderly, slip and falls become the most likely cause of spinal cord injuries. Older adults are often much more fragile than young adults and this makes it a lot easier for them to break or injure their bones.
- Violent acts: Violent encounters, often involving gunshots or knife wounds, make up a good number of spinal cord injuries. Unlike the first two, these are not accidents and are much harder to protect yourself from.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms and Side Effects
When almost all feeling and ability to control movement are lost below the spinal cord, this is referred to as being “complete”. If you still have some of your motor or sensory function below the injured area, your injury is “incomplete.” There are also several kinds of paralysis that can occur when you injure your spinal cord, from tetraplegia to quadriplegia. A spinal cord injury of any severity may result in one or more of the following signs or symptoms:
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of movement
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs
- Pain or an intense stinging sensation in your spinal cord
- Changes in sexual sensitivity, function and fertility
If you have experienced significant trauma to your spinal cord due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, please contact our Orange County personal injury lawyers at Law Office of Marshall Silberberg immediately. We can evaluate your case, advise you of your rights, and guide you through the entire legal process.
Call (949) 565-4281 or contact us online today for a free consultation.