Delayed Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms Following an Auto Accident – The risk of a serious auto accident can occur any time someone gets into a car. The accidents can range widely in their severity, even minor car accidents can result in serious traumatic injuries. Even though some injuries could lead to a swift recovery, there are a lot of other issues that could lead to lifelong consequences. One example is a spinal cord injury. According to statistics that were recently released by the University of Alabama in Birmingham:
- About 300,000 individuals are currently living in the United States with a spinal cord injury.
- The average age at which someone suffers a spinal cord injury is around 40 years old.
- Males suffer spinal cord injuries at about four times the rate of females.
- The most common reason why people sustain a spinal cord injury is an auto accident.
Symptoms to Watch For With A Spinal Cord Injury
Someone could suffer a spinal cord injury in many different ways. In an auto accident, people could sustain direct trauma to their back through either a blunt mechanism (such as a rollover accident) or a penetrating injury from metal or glass. Some symptoms that someone could experience with a spinal cord injury include:
- Pain that shoots down the arms of the legs.
- Difficulty moving the arms or legs.
- Loss of sensation along certain parts of the body.
- A decrease in the range of motion of the arms or legs.
- Loss of continence of the bowels or bladder.
It is important to note that people will not necessarily experience all of these symptoms. The severity and scope of these symptoms are going to depend on the location of the injury along the spinal cord. In some cases, symptoms may not show up immediately after the accident.
Symptom Onset Could Be Delayed
According to a recent research paper, symptoms of a spinal cord injury may not show until days or even weeks later. The signs of a spinal cord injury depend on damage to the nerves that run through the spinal cord. One reason why these nerves could be damaged is that of swelling inside the spinal canal. This swelling leads to a compression of the nerves themselves. If the swelling does not start immediately after the accident, the symptoms will not show up quickly either. Swelling could be due to:
- A direct impact to the spine.
- An inflammatory response to a traumatic event.
- A possible infection that resulted from a penetrating injury.
Regardless of the reason why this swelling starts, it needs to be treated immediately. Unlike the cells in other areas of the body, nerves do not regenerate once they die.
What are the Treatment Options?
When someone has symptoms of a spinal cord injury, there are several treatment options that physicians can employ. Some of these include:
Swelling: Swelling along the spinal cord could lead to severe nerve damage. Steroids can reduce the swelling and relieve the compression along the nerves.
Surgery: Sometimes, steroids are not enough to relieve the swelling. In this case, neurosurgery could be needed to ease the swelling. This could be the case if a vertebral fracture or a herniated disc is present.
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is important because it could help people regain motor and sensory function that they might have lost. Physical therapy should be started as soon as possible following a spinal cord injury.
Trust an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
In addition to medical care, it is crucial for those who have suffered a spinal cord injury to meet with a car accident lawyer in Sacramento. An experienced car accident lawyer can help families with a variety of issues including:
- Making sure that there is a complete investigation of the accident.
- Helping families with issues that could be related to the financial costs of healthcare.
- Handling possible problems relating to the coverage of property damage.
Many problems could come up following a serious spinal cord injury. Do not hesitate to reach out to a car accident attorney in Sacramento because you and your loved ones could be entitled to financial compensation.
Related Articles
- Returning Home After a Spinal Cord Injury
- Functional Outcomes of Spinal Cord Injuries
- Children and Adolescents with a Spinal Cord Injury
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a car accident injury lawyer in Sacramento. A spinal cord injury impacts the entire family, and it is important to seek help when it is needed. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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Delayed Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms Following an Auto Accident: AutoAccident.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/Delayed Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms Following an Auto Accident.
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