The spinal cord serves as the body’s primary pathway for communication. It connects the brain to almost every part of the body, carrying signals that control movement, feeling, and other essential life-sustaining functions. A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-altering event that can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, and lifelong medical needs.
Overview of Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is vital. It transmits sensory information (like touch, pain, and temperature) to the brain for processing. It also sends messages (like signals to flex or contract) from the brain to muscles, enabling movement, sensation, and essential bodily functions.
The phrase “spinal cord” is a misnomer. It is not a single cord, but rather a collection of spinal nerves. The spinal cord has 31 pairs of spinal nerves at the top of the spine. These nerves exit the spinal column through the vertebrae.
At each vertebra, nerve roots branch out to different parts of the body:
- Cervical nerves (neck): Control the arms, hands, shoulders, and the chest muscles that help you breathe.
- Thoracic nerves (upper back): Control the chest and parts of the abdomen.
- Lumbar and sacral nerves (lower back): Control hips, legs, feet, and bowel/bladder function.
Damage to the spinal cord can cause significant, often permanent, changes to bodily function–including paralysis, pain, and a permanent reduction in quality of life. Understanding the implications, causes, and symptoms of a spinal cord injury can empower you to make informed decisions regarding your options for medical care and legal action.
Classification of Spinal Cord Damage
When spinal nerves are damaged, their ability to transmit signals between the body and the brain is impaired.
There are two major categories of spinal cord injury:
- Severed Nerves: A nerve that is completely severed is effectively dead and can no longer transmit signals. Unfortunately, doctors cannot reconnect severed spinal nerves, leading to a total and permanent loss of function.
- Compressed Nerves: A pinched or stretched nerve misfires, sending incorrect signals that can trigger pain or disruption. However, these injuries are generally less severe and often treatable; sometimes, the brain can even rewire itself to regain lost function.
It is important to understand the relationship between the way an injury happens and the damage it can cause. This relationship will impact your options for recovery and pursuing a legal claim after a traumatic event.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Damage to the spinal cord often reflects the nature and degree of the event that caused it.
Physically traumatic events usually cause spinal cord injuries, including:
- Car accidents – The leading cause of SCIs in the U.S.
- Falls – Especially common among older adults.
- Acts of violence – Deliberate assault, like gunshot and stab wounds.
- Sports injuries – High-impact activities can result in fractures or dislocations.
When vertebrae fracture or dislocate, bone fragments can compress or sever the spinal cord. In severe cases, victims face permanent disability and a lifetime of medical care.
Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can have catastrophic consequences. The symptoms of a spinal cord injury depend on the level of the injury and its degree of completeness.
Injury Completeness
Spinal cord injuries are classified by their degree of completeness:
- Complete Injury: All nerves are severed, resulting in permanent paralysis below the injury level. These injuries often cause total loss of motor control and sensation.
- Incomplete Injury: Some nerves remain intact. Symptoms may include partial paralysis, tingling, or weakness. In some cases, the brain can partially compensate over time.
These classifications are just one part of understanding a spinal cord injury.
Injury Level
The injury level will determine which areas of the body experience symptoms. Symptoms vary based on the severity and location of the injury:
- Neck injuries (cervical): May result in quadriplegia (loss of movement in all four limbs) and potential breathing difficulties.
- Upper back injuries (thoracic): Affect trunk stability and lower body movement.
- Lower back injuries (lumbar/sacral): Can cause paraplegia, sexual dysfunction, and loss of bowel/bladder control.
The location of the spinal cord damage is ultimately what determines the severity of the injury and the implications it will have on your life.
Long-Term Consequences of Spinal Cord Injuries
Injuries to the top two vertebrae are the most severe, leading either to death or complete paralysis. Lower levels of injury are less severe and usually lead to partial paralysis and/or loss of function. For instance, an injury at the bottom of the spine may only affect the lower limbs but leave the victim with bowel and bladder control.
Spinal cord injuries often have lifelong effects, including:
- Chronic pain and nerve sensitivity
- Limited mobility or paralysis
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
- Increased risk of infections and secondary complications
- Emotional and psychological impacts
Rehabilitation can help some patients regain partial function, but complete recovery is rare for severe injuries.
Legal Considerations After a Spinal Cord Injury
If your injury was caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses and ongoing rehabilitation
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Costs of home modifications or mobility devices
In Georgia, personal injury claims are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations, so it is crucial to act quickly.
Contact The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to Discuss Compensation for a Spinal Cord Injury
Have you suffered a spinal cord injury in Macon, GA? You may be entitled to significant compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and long-term care needs.
Spinal cord injuries can change your life in an instant. The consequences are lasting impairments, such as paralysis and loss of feeling beneath the point of impact. The nature of the injury usually means spinal cord injury victims suffer hefty medical costs and devastating income losses.
At The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced personal injury attorneys have successfully helped countless accident victims recover the compensation they deserve. Contact us at (478) 292-7272 for a free consultation to discuss your spinal cord injury and learn how we can fight for your recovery.
