[ad_1]
Falls are a leading cause of injury and can potentially cause spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can be minor or severe, but in all cases a spinal injury from a fall must be followed by a healthcare professional.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious a person can suffer, and there is a real risk that they will be paralyzed or suffer from severe symptoms as a result of the injury. If a spinal cord injury is the result of negligence on the part of a homeowner, you may be able to seek compensation through a local liability and personal injury claim.
Understanding the types of spinal cord injuries
It is important to understand the types of spinal cord injuries and what a diagnosis can mean to you. There are two categories of spinal cord injuries. They are complete wounds and incomplete wounds.
With complete injuries, the spinal cord has been completely severed or damaged, so that information no longer travels from the brain past the point of injury. With incomplete injuries, some information can still reach the lower parts of the body.
Complete injuries are more likely to cause total paralysis, organ problems, and other symptoms, but incomplete injuries can also cause total paralysis, depending on the severity of the injury.
For example, if the injury occurs at a higher level, such as involving the C1 to C4 nerves of the cervical spine, there is a real risk that a person will be paralyzed or suffer from a downward neck dysfunction.
What symptoms affect people with spinal cord injuries?
People who suffer from spinal cord injuries can experience a variety of symptoms, but some of the more common symptoms include:
- Paralysis of limbs or trunk. When all four limbs are affected, it is called quadriplegia. When only two are affected, it’s paraplegia
- An inability to breathe on their own or control bowel or bladder function
- Muscular weakness
- Loss of sensation and sensation
- Chronic pain
Since every spinal cord injury is different, the problems a victim faces depend on the location of the injury and the severity of the damage.
How is a spinal cord injury diagnosed?
Spinal cord injuries are sometimes obvious, but they have yet to be officially diagnosed. Spinal cord injuries are medical emergencies, especially since the effects of this injury may not be immediately apparent.
During an exam, the healthcare professional will ask you how the injury occurred and your medical history. The medical provider may also order a number of tests, such as:
- X-rays
- Blood tests
- Computed tomography (CT or CAT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests
These scans and tests will allow the medical team to fully understand the severity of the injury.
How is a spinal cord injury treated?
Depending on the severity of the injury, a spinal cord injury may require several types of treatment. For minor spinal cord injury, rest, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain relievers may be prescribed to reduce swelling and minimize damage to the spinal cord. It is typical to see patients also undergo physical therapy.
For moderate or acute injuries, the specific treatment will depend on how damaged the spinal cord has been. Surgery can help remove bone fragments or stabilize the bones that were pressing on the nerves. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to prevent further damage from inflammation. Rest and stabilization are also important during the first few days of the injury, then the medical team will develop a treatment plan.
For those who have been completely paralyzed or have symptoms such as difficulty breathing, it is possible to be placed on a mechanical ventilator, use a bladder catheter, or need a feeding tube.
How much does a spinal cord injury cost?
The cost of a spinal cord injury will depend on the severity of the injury and the medical treatment needed. Some of the expenses that people with spinal cord injuries may face include the cost of:
- Rehabilitation
- Home care
- Travel cost
- Household help
- Psychological counseling
- Assistive devices
- Durable equipment
- Loss of income
According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, elevated quadriplegia, which affects nerves between C1 and C4, can cost up to $ 1,064,716 to treat in the first year and about $ 184,891 each year thereafter. This information is from 2014, the latest cost update, so you may be spending even more on trying to heal this serious injury.
People injured at 25 will spend between $ 1.5 million and over $ 4.5 million for a spinal cord injury in their lifetime. Those injured at age 50 will spend between $ 1.1 million and $ 2.5 million or more. This is not a cheap injury, which is why it is essential to seek the compensation you deserve.
[ad_2]
Source link