Falls and motor vehicle crashes are two of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries. These are catastrophic injuries that can lead to permanent paralysis and other impacts. One of the most important things for a person to do when they have a spinal cord injury is to get prompt medical care.
Immediately after the spinal cord injury, the primary focus is to stabilize the patient. Once that’s done, it shifts to protecting the spinal cord. Ultimately, the treatment will begin to focus on improving the person’s abilities.
Challenges of spinal cord injuries
The location and type of injury to the victim’s spine are the key indicators of the long-term prognosis. The victim’s body is affected below the level of the spinal injury, so a person who has a neck injury will have a larger portion of the body affected than someone who has damage to their lower spine. An incomplete injury, where the spinal cord isn’t severed, will have less impact than a complete injury, where the spinal cord is destroyed.
There are more possible challenges that come with a spinal cord injury than just paralysis. Victims may suffer from:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Inability to regulate body temperature
- Pain and spasticity
- Sexual dysfunction
- Problems with the lungs or heart
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pneumonia
- Blood pressure problems
When a spinal cord injury is the result of another person’s negligence, it’s possible to seek compensation to help recover the financial damages. This civil matter has to be filed within a specific amount of time that’s set by Texas law. The two-year time limit starts when the incident occurs. Working with someone familiar with the law enables you to focus on healing while they handle the legal matters.