Spinal cord injuries can be scary and devastating to the victim and their family. However, not all mean the person will be paralyzed for life. In fact, spinal injuries are experienced at varying degrees, and some have a better prognosis than others. Learn the basic differences between the two main types of spinal cord injuries, and more about how those variations could impact your personal injury case.
Spinal Cord Injuries (General)
Protected and encompassed within the vertebrae, your spinal cord transfers messages from your brain to the rest of your body. When the protective but bony vertebrae are damaged – crushed, broken, or otherwise compromised – they can cut into or compress the spinal cord and damage it. As a result, messages are no longer able to reach the affected parts of your body. The lower the damage, the further down your body the damage will likely be. Alternatively, injuries higher up on the spinal cord (closer to your head) can cause more widespread loss of sensation, movement, or control.
Complete versus Incomplete
In the most general sense, the difference between a complete and incomplete spinal injury is severity. With a complete injury, there is typically more damage to the spinal cord. As a result, it may be unable to heal. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are those in which the damage is less severe. Perhaps the cord has become swollen, due to trauma, or maybe it has the ability to repair itself. Whatever the situation, the prognosis for those that experience incomplete spinal cord injuries is typically better than those that experience a complete spinal cord injury.
Differences in Prognosis
While only time and a qualified physician can give an accurate prognosis for your particular situation, there are some commonalities between the potential outcomes for both complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries. For example, those that did not experience complete paralysis after the injury tend to have the most favorable prognosis. Paralysis does not necessarily mean one will not eventually regain at least some control or sensation of their body or limbs. When it comes to spinal injuries closer to the head (cervical injuries), those that can feel the sharpness of a pin-prick are more likely to regain their ability to walk than those that can only feel a light touch. Earlier recovery has also been linked to a better prognosis for spinal cord injury victims.
Obtaining Compensation for Your Spinal Cord Injury
Because spinal cord injuries typically result in lost time at work and expense medical bills, and some result in long-term or lifelong disability, it is critical that those injured by the negligence of others seek experienced legal assistance to obtain compensation for their losses. Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. offers the seasoned and aggressive representation you need. Schedule a personalized consultation with our Green Bay spinal cord injury lawyers to learn more. Call 920-739-7366 today.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/spinalcordinjuries.html
https://craighospital.org/resources/incomplete-spinal-cord-injuries-the-early-days