People who are involved in a car crash can suffer serious injuries, including some that impact the spinal cord. These injuries can have significant impacts on the victims because there can be permanent damage.
Anyone who’s suffered an injury to the spinal cord and their loved ones may find these three things to know helpful as they learn to live with the effects of the injury.
1. Injuries can initially appear worse
Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) often seem more severe in the moments following the crash. Swelling, inflammation and the body’s immediate response to trauma can cause temporary loss of movement or sensation. In some cases, symptoms improve as swelling decreases and the spinal cord stabilizes.
2. Severity of nerve damage can impact recovery
The extent of nerve damage plays a critical role in determining recovery. SCIs are classified as complete or incomplete, depending on how much nerve damage is present. A complete injury involves fully severed nerves at the site of the injury, so the chance of recovery isn’t as good as what’s possible for an incomplete injury because there is only limited damage to the nerves in this type of injury.
3. Effects always occur below the level of damage
SCIs always impact the area of the body below the level of the injury. This means that a person who has an injury to their neck will likely have a larger part of the body experiencing effects than a person who has a lower back injury.
Spinal cord injuries can be costly because of the medical care needs and the likelihood of limited or stopped income. Victims who were injured because of another person’s negligence may opt to pursue a compensation claim to help cover the costs.
