Spinal Cord Injury

The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center claims that nearly 11,000 people sustain a spinal cord injury every year. You may be surprised to learn that car accidents are at the center of 40% of all spinal injury claims filed in the United States.

Anatomy of the Spine

There are three distinct regions of the spine: the lumbar spine (lower back), the thoracic spine (the upper back) and the cervical spine (the neck area). The spine itself is made up of bones, or vertebrae, as well as discs between the vertebrae function as a cushion. If the discs rupture, bulge or herniate they will put pressure on the nerves and nerve endings that pass through the spine, resulting in painful and permanent injury.

Causes and Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Injury to the vertebrae and spinal discs can come from trauma resulting from an accident, including a traffic accident. Other spinal injuries can include fracture, crushing or bruising that may result which will result in pain, numbness and weakness in the limbs or appendages. In some extreme cases, damage to the spine may result in partial paralysis (paraplegia or hemiplegia) or complete paralysis (quadriplegia).

Physical therapy is paramount in rehabilitating a spinal cord injury victim. The entire rehabilitation process is often lengthy and, therefore, expensive. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, be sure to keep a detailed account of all of your medical records and expenses. As you file a claim with your insurance company or if you are seeking damages from another party, you may enlist the assistance of a personal injury attorney who can help you through these lengthy and often complicated processes.