We have seen it over and over again in real life, movies and on TV. A tragic accident causes a person to become fully or partially paralyzed and affecting day-to-day life. It is, unfortunately, an occurrence that is all too common. Spinal cord injuries can drastically alter how a person lives. As much as we would all like to prevent these injuries from happening, the causes are just too widespread. Automobile accidents, for example, are some of the main reasons.
The Spinal Cord and Spinal Injuries
The spinal cord is an extremely vital part of a person’s nervous system. It performs many functions that are essential to one’s survival. Some of the many functions of the spinal cord are the following:
- It connects the nerves of the entire body to the brain
- It helps with the transmission of nervous impulses
- It helps with coordinating reflexes
The spinal cord helps a person perform many day-to-day functions. As such, a spinal cord injury can drastically alter a person’s lifestyle.
Spinal cord injuries can either be incomplete or complete injuries. An incomplete spinal cord injury leaves some sensory or motor capabilities below the injured area. A complete spinal cord injury, on the other hand, involves the loss of all sensory and motor capabilities below the injured area.
What Can Cause Spinal Cord Injuries?
Many things can cause spinal cord injuries. The most common cause for injury is through force and trauma to the back or the neck. It can be due to the following:
- Automobile accidents: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents are some of the leading causes of spinal cord injury. Many cases of people becoming paraplegic or quadriplegic are due to road accidents.
- Sporting accidents: Sporting activities, when they go wrong, can also lead to spinal injury. If enough force is applied to damage the spinal cord, then an injury is a definite possibility.
- Violence: Victims of violence can also possibly incur spinal cord injuries.
- Diseases: Some diseases can cause physical damage to the spinal cord and can cause loss of function.
No matter what the cause of the injury may be, having the injury itself will drastically change a person’s day-to-day life.
Ways a Spinal Cord Injury Can Affect Your Life
Spinal cord injuries are the subject of many forms of media. As a result, many of us are very aware of how this impacts a person’s capacity to perform. Some of the aspects of day-to-day life that are affected are the following:
- Difficulty or inability to control limbs
The spinal cord helps in transmitting signals and coordinating movement. Injuries in some parts of the spine can eventually lead to difficulty in controlling limbs. Some of the more severe injuries, in fact, can cause a complete inability to control the arms and legs.
- Loss and difficulty of movement
Not all movement is completely lost as a result of a spinal cord injury. However, coordinating movements can prove be challenging. Other body parts may also be more affected compared to others. Breathing, for example, can be severely affected.
- Alteration of bodily sensations
Spinal cord injuries can also alter the sensations a person feels Some cases, for example, lead to the victim not being able to feel cold or heat in some parts of the body. Victims may also feel pain and numbness in certain parts of their body.
- Inability to control urination and defecation
Some spinal cord injuries can affect a person’s ability to control urination and defecation. That can prove to be difficult since these basic functions are the ones done every single day.
- Spasms and changes to reflexes
Some victims of spinal cord injuries experience spasms. Others experience undergo to normal body reflexes.
Contact a Michigan Lawyer for Immediate and Professional Help
Are you or a loved one involved in an accident that led to a spinal cord injury? These injuries are nothing to scoff at since spinal damage can cause serious consequences. Though you know you are entitled to a claim, you may be feeling helpless and worried of the expenses that come with the injury. For this, contact The Clark Law Office for a consultation.
Our Michigan personal injury lawyers will see to it that you receive just compensation for the injury you incurred. The Clark Law Office has some of the most experienced accident lawyers in Michigan. Call us at +1 (517) 347-6900 for more information.
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