Car accidents are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries, which can be life-changing for those involved. What should injured people and their loved ones know after a crash about spinal cord injuries?
What is a spinal cord injury (SCI)?
When an injury damages the spinal cord, these injuries can leave a person with reduced sensation and function or no function below the level of injury. Symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the injury. These symptoms can include:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Exaggerated reflex activities
- Changes in sexual function, sensitivity and fertility
- Pain or stinging
Car accidents are the most common cause of these injuries, amounting to more than 37 percent of SCIs each year.
What treatment might someone receive after a spinal cord injury?
While there is currently no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord, several treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. These include:
- Surgery: To stabilize the spine and relieve compression.
- Medication: To manage pain and inflammation.
- Rehabilitation: Physical therapy and occupational therapy to improve mobility and independence.
- Assistive devices: Wheelchairs, braces, and other devices to aid mobility.
Unfortunately, care for people living with spinal cord injuries after a serious crash can add up quickly. In the first year alone, health care and living expenses for people with spinal cord injuries can be between $347,383 and $1,064,716, with lifetime costs totaling over one million dollars. People living with an SCI and their families may want to explore options like lawsuits to offset these costs.
Moving forward after a serious crash causes and SCI
Spinal cord injuries from serious car accidents can change the course of a person’s life. Understanding these injuries can help injured people and their loved ones get the support and care they need.