Spinal cord injuries – what you need to know

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Spinal cord injuries – what you need to know

A spinal cord injury is incredibly serious, and it often means the victim has to significantly adapt their life to help with the pain, their potential loss of mobility and in some cases and the loss of their independence.

Spinal cord injuries aren’t common, however, most of them are often the result of car accidents or huge events that involve great trauma to the body. If you or a loved one is facing the impact of a spinal cord injury then you may find even the most basic of medical terms confusing and overwhelming, combined with the emotional trauma you might be experiencing, it may be difficult to get to grips with understanding the gravity of your situation.

Here we’ll take a look at some of the basic facts about spinal cord injuries and other facts you may find helpful.

Different types of injuries

So, what are the different types of spinal cord injuries? Spinal cord injuries are categorised into two types. Complete and incomplete. When we want our bodies to do something, our brain sends signals to that area of the body via the spinal cord, so when your spinal cord is injured, it may mean that the signals sent from your brain can’t get further than the damaged area.

Depending on where the damage on your spinal cord is, will determine which motor skills you still have. For example, if the injury is to the lumbar part of the spinal cord then you’re likely to maintain the function of the upper body but be paraplegic from the waist down. However, if there is other damage to the spinal cord, then the victim may lose complete upper and lower body function, rendering them what is known as a quadriplegic. These kinds of injuries are permanent and classed as complete spinal cord injuries. 

So, what about incomplete spinal cord injuries?

Incomplete injuries to the spinal cord aren’t as black and white. And they vary from victim to victim. Ranging from some motor function loss and even issues with their sensory functions, an incomplete spinal cord injury could be loss of feeling in one limb, issues with complete movements, or they may have movement and function with one side of the body more than the other.

What are the symptoms?

A spinal cord injury is something that will be easily determined, and it’s often picked up straight away. However, it can leave lasting symptoms which again, and vary from person to person.

• Loss of fertility
• Bladder and bowel issues
• Constant chronic pain
• Issues with breathing
• Bedsores (if the patient is unable to move unaided)

• Loss of sexual function

Final thoughts…

A spinal cord injury is life-changing, so if yours is the result of an accident that wasn’t your fault, speak with a PI lawyer, today.