What to expect from a spinal cord injury after a terrible accident in Texas.

Spinal cord injuries can result from motor vehicle, sport or work accidents, gunshot wounds and other causes. Because of the delicate architecture of the spinal column, and the crucial role of the spinal cord as the main neural conduit between the brain and the body, a spinal cord injury is among the most devastating for victims and challenging for doctors.

What are the symptoms of a spinal cord injury?

Symptoms will vary with the location of the injury. Generally the patient experiences weakness or sensory loss below the place of injury. Below the first lumbar vertebra, there is no spinal cord so the damage will be limited to local nerve roots. The more common symptoms are:

breathing difficulties
paralysis
loss of bowel and bladder control
spasticity
weakness, numbness

How can a spinal cord injury be treated?

Emergency: A spinal cord trauma must be treated immediately in order to limit permanent damage. Corticosteroids are used to limit the swelling; hematoma or bony fragments should be removed as soon as possible.

Surgery: This may be necessary to remove bone or disk fragments, fluids, tissue or foreign objects or to stabilize fractured vertebrae.

Anatomic realignment: Dislocation can be reduced by spinal traction. Sometimes the skull and/or the spine will have to be immobilized to permit realignment and reconstruction.

Treatment: Different treatments will take care of muscle spasms, repair the skin, prevent bedsores or contractures and address bowel and bladder dysfunction.

Spasticity and pain: Muscle tone can be reduced with a variety of oral or injected medications. Pain is treated with analgesics, relaxants and some physical therapy movements.

Rehabilitation: After the acute injury has healed, and with persistent disability the patient will start the rehabilitation phase involving physical therapy, occupational therapy and many daily exercises to cope and limit the effects of disability and impairment.

What can the victim of a spinal cord injury expect?

There is no way to predict with confidence what lays ahead, because both injuries and individuals are different in every case. Paralysis and loss of sensation are common. Recovering some movement and sensation after a few weeks could indicate a gradual improvement that may take several months. In many, sad cases, the patient will have to deal with permanent paralysis and impairment, and their possible complications such as:

bedsores, deep vein thrombosis, contractures, pulmonary infections;
extreme blood pressure changes;
urinary tract infection, kidney damage, ...

Living with disability requires a major change in the daily activities and the living environment. A short overview would include:

adaptive hardware changes in the living environment: stairs, car, communication, work and occupation;
adaptive services such as meals, hygiene, cleaning, laundry, shopping;
and regular therapies and medical care, such as speech therapy, physical therapy, and medical checks to avoid complications, relieve pain and propose new treatments.

Those who are victim of an accident caused by someone else deserve our total support. Terrible injuries like spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, full thickness burns or multiple fractures can have long lasting, life changing effects for the victims and their families. The scope of the challenge is magnified by the long, difficult, exhausting process of getting just and complete compensation.

As a Dallas-based top rated Texas personal injury attorney, Kay Van Wey has the experience and skills to build, evaluate and win your case, whatever the complexity and severity of the sustained injuries. Don't hesitate to call Kay Van Wey now at 800-489-5082 or send us an e-mail for a free, no obligation consultation.

Don't hesitate to contact Kay Van Wey at (800)489-5082 for a free, no obligation consultation.

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The entire state of Texas, including Dallas, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio

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