Spinal cord injuries are caused by many factors. Many people with this type of injury were involved in serious auto accidents. One of the first things they want to know is what type of recovery they are likely to experience. The answer to this isn’t always simple because there are so many variables that can affect the individual’s recovery trajectory.
In the early stages of treatment, the doctors will determine whether the spinal cord injury is complete or incomplete. This single factor plays a major role in the recovery potential. Typically, an incomplete injury has a greater chance for a better recovery than a complete injury.
An incomplete injury leaves the victim able to still feel sensations or have at least partial control of the area of the body below the injury. A complete injury means that there aren’t any sensations and no control below the level of the injury.
The level of the injury location on the spinal cord also plays a part. Damage that’s higher on the spinal cord is associated with a reduced chance of healing and an increased number of impacts. This is because the area of the body below the level of the injury is affected by the injury, so a neck injury can impact the arms, torso and legs. A lower back injury would affect the legs, but not the arms or the full torso.
A spinal cord injury victim will likely need considerable medical care. They may be unable to return to work and could require intensive assistance with daily care tasks. This is often a huge financial hit, but individuals who were injured due to the negligence of another person might opt to seek compensation to help reduce the financial damages they have to cope with due to the accident.
