Sacramento Spinal Cord Injury Attorney

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is a vital part of the human body, playing an essential role in the central nervous system. Injury to the spinal column may lead to various health ailments and conditions depending on the injury site. The most severe accidents and spinal cord injury cases lead to permanent damage and paralysis. 

Symptoms and conditions related to spinal injuries include:

• Diminished strength 
• Less control over various body functions 
• Muscle spasms 
• Numbness and tingling in extremities
• Digestive problems
• Partial or complete paralysis
• Sexual dysfunction
• Other symptoms and conditions 

Severely injured individuals may require years of therapy, doctor’s visits, and medical equipment such as a wheelchair and specialized car seats. After a severe accident where the spinal cord is damaged, the symptoms and conditions cause many life changes on the injured person. If you or a loved one have suffered an accident because of another’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for the life changes and damage the accident has caused you. 

Types of Accidents That May Cause Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury may result from various events and accidents. When an individual is left paralyzed, different spine areas are usually affected. These accidents and circumstances may result from a negligent driver, business owner, property owner, or an individual directly involved in the cause of the accident. Proving negligence and liability may be tricky in these cases, yet, with a skilled attorney experienced in personal injury and catastrophic events, you can recover the compensation owed to you. 

Most common causes of spinal cord injury include:

• Car accidents 
• Slip and falls 
• Acts of violence 
• Sports or recreational injuries 
• Diseases 

When you or a loved one has suffered an unfortunate accident that leads to severe spinal cord damage, the effects and recovery may last a lifetime. It is very stressful and life-changing to undergo surgery therapy and acclimate to new health needs that accommodate your new way of life. The various challenges and hardships for individuals with spinal cord injuries may surpass any settlement offers from liable parties. Seek a skilled attorney who can help you protect your rights and defend your case.  

Common Effects of Living with Spinal Cord Damage

After a spinal cord injury, the nerves, mobility, strength, and other aspects of a person’s health are negatively impacted. In some cases, damage in the spinal column leaves minor effects or pain that may resolve without permanent injury. Severe spinal cord injuries that injure the neck, regions of the back, and sacral vertebrae may lead to paralysis.

Different Types of Paralysis 

Paralysis is the inability to move a part of your body, and there are different types. When there is a disconnect between the brain’s ability to receive and send signals as part of the nervous system, it results in a permanent inability to move. The different types of paralysis are as follows: 

• Monoplegia: Inability to move one arm or leg 
• Hemiplegia: Inability to move one arm and leg on one side of the body
• Paraplegia: Affects both legs
• Quadriplegia: Affects arms and legs of both sides

Trauma and spinal cord injuries are generally the cause of paralysis. 

Complications after Paralysis and Spinal Cord Damage

Despite paralysis affecting the body’s function and control between the brain and spinal cord, additional effects may arise when living with paralysis and spinal cord damage. Unfortunately, many paralyzed individuals and post-spinal cord damage patients are at risk for different complications. 

Complications that may arise after spinal cord damage and paralysis include:

• Changes in bladder and bowel function or control
• Pressure injuries, such as sores and abrasions, resulting from losing sensation
• Complications of the circulatory system due to lower blood pressure and swelling of the extremities
• Loss of bone density and increased risk for fractures
• Loss of muscle tone and function
• Weight loss and pain in different body areas
• Loss of sexual health
• Decreased mental health and higher risk for depression