People who are involved in a car crash, a slip and fall, or any other type of accident may suffer very serious injuries, one of which is damage to the spinal cord. This type of injury can have lifelong effects.
The initial period after the injury occurs can be scary. Understanding a few points about spinal cord injuries may help victims during this time.
1: Symptoms vary
Not all spinal cord injuries produce the same results. The location and severity of the injury determine what happens. The area of the body that’s impacted is always lower than the level of the injury. This means that an injury to the cervical, or upper spine, will affect more of the body than one to the lumbar, or lower spine.
2: Effects might seem worse at first
The spinal cord is likely inflamed during the initial period after the injury occurs. This can make the effects of the injury worse than what they’ll be in the long run. Doctors usually try to control the inflammation by prescribing corticosteroids.
3: Lifelong care might be necessary
Some people who have a spinal cord injury will need lifelong medical care because of the severity of the injuries. In many cases, this will involve various specialists because of how much the injury affects the body.
Getting proper medical care can help to improve the outcome of a spinal cord injury. This is often costly. Victims of negligence should pursue compensation for their expenses and other damages, but they must act quickly due to Florida’s statute of limitations.