6 Signs of A Spinal Cord Injury Caused By A Car Accident
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on February 23, 2022
Approximately 18,000 people in the U.S. suffered from some type of spinal cord injury in 2020, according to data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Center (NSCSC). While every human is at risk of some type of spinal cord injury, based on 2015 data, approximately 78% of new spinal cord injury cases happened to men.
Additionally, according to research published by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the average age of injury has increased in recent years and is now 42 years of age, non-Hispanic whites are at higher risk for spinal cord injuries than any other ethnic group.
Car accidents tend to be the leading cause of a spinal cord injury. The sudden, harsh impact of a car accident can cause a hard hit or twist to the spinal cord and surrounding discs and ligaments. In extreme cases a spinal cord injury can cause paralysis from the waist or neck down.
Other common causes of spinal cord injuries (which may include bruising, partial tearing or full tears) include accidents involving falls. Additionally, sometimes people experience a spinal cord injury while engaging in certain sports or leisure activities, or as the result of gunshot wounds. Certain types of diseases may also damage a person’s spinal cord including polio, Friedreich’s ataxia, and spina bifida.
Your spinal cord is often compared to a cable that helps to deliver messages between your body and your brain. It is tubular in shape, made up of nervous tissue, and protected by the 33 stacked vertebrae that fit together to make up the spinal canal.
Injuries to your spinal cord can be both painful and very serious. Follow along for 6 common signs of a spinal cord injury.
6 Common Signs of a Spinal Cord Injury
1. Intense pain sometimes described as pressure in your back, neck and sometimes head
2. Loss of strength, numbness, or a decrease in sensation/feeling, and increased weakness in the location of the injury.
3. A “pins and needles” tingling type of feeling by the injury site.
4. Incontinence/ a feeling like you may have urinary and/or bowel retention problems
5. Shortness of breath, a heightened sense of angst, faintness, and dizziness
6. Compromised muscular movements in your arms, legs, chest, etc.
If you or someone you love is experiencing spinal pain and you are concerned about a spinal cord injury, it is always advisable that you seek out qualified medical attention immediately. Sometimes the effects of a spinal cord injury are not readily apparent and may require a full medical evaluation and testing. Diagnostic tests may involve bloodwork, X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and more.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a spinal cord injury as a result of an accident, and you are seeking the legal guidance of a qualified personal injury attorney, the experienced team at Cooper & Friedman PLLC is here to help. We’ve been fighting for the rights of accident victims across the state of Kentucky for decades. To learn more or to schedule a free case consultation with an injury attorney, give us a call at 502-459-7555.