Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can be caused by any trauma to a person’s back. Any accident that puts extreme force on the body could result in a spine injury.
Incidents that can result in back and spinal cord injuries include:
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injuries
- Slip and fall accidents
- Violence
- Sports-related injuries
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are often considered in two separate categories: complete and incomplete injuries. A complete injury is a spinal cord injury in which all sensation and movement ability in the affected area is lost. When an injury is incomplete, the victim retains partial sensation.
Less catastrophic conditions, such as disc herniation, may contribute to some limits in movement and sensation but are often treatable.
Specific conditions that can arise from damage to the spinal cord include:
- Paralysis
- Herniated discs
- Brown-Séquard syndrome
- Anterior cord syndrome
- Central cord syndrome
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
Pain in the back and neck are the best indicators of a spinal cord injury, but because the spinal cord is a network of nerves, an injury to the area can affect many different parts of the body.
The signs of a spinal cord injury can also include:
- Tingling sensations in the extremities
- Numbness
- Balance issues
- Limited mobility and control
- Incontinence
- Trouble breathing
- Visual signs such as bumps, scarring, and bruising on the back
If you were involved in an accident where you landed on your back, or the area suffered from some other type of trauma, receiving immediate medical attention is of the essence. The long-term effects of a spinal cord injury will only intensify if the initial need for medical treatment is ignored.
How are Spinal Cord Injuries Treated?
Treatment for a spinal cord injury is often very expensive. The victims of spinal cord injuries may require surgery and continuous treatment to manage the effects on mobility, feeling, and organ functionality. Extended therapy is an extremely costly bill to maintain for weeks, months, years, or for a lifetime. At Brown & Barron, LLC, our attorneys are committed to helping injury victims recover compensation for their injury-related expenses.
Send us a message or call (410) 698-1717 — available 24/7 — to schedule a free consultation with our team.