What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

In the middle of your back you can feel your spine, which is sometimes very sensitive to touch and is a hard bony area. That spine is made up of vertebrae which protect the cord that runs down the length of your back. This cord is the nerve center for most of the movement of your body and is very important in all of your daily activities. A spinal cord injury is an injury to this very vital part of your body and can have devastating results in your ability to continue to live your life as previously. If the nerves are cut off to your feet or legs, you might not be able to walk again.

Spinal cord injury can begin with a traumatic accident to the spine that will fracture or dislocate the vertebrae. There is immediate damage as the bones or discs cut into the tissue of the cord. It is unusual for the cord to be severed, but there are just usually fractures and compressed vertebrae which is press on nerve cells that affect the rest of the body. Depending on the damage to these nerve cells some injured people could recover completely. However, some other damage will result in full paralysis. If there is injury to the upper spine, there must be concern about the patient's breathing ability and they may need to be on a respirator until a full evaluation can be done. If a patient suffers an "incomplete" cord injury, then there is hope for getting their full function back or a least most of it. If, on the other hand, they have a complete cord injury then the condition is probably permanent barring new research.

People are never expecting an injury that will change their life and therefore are not very likely to be prepared for their falling apart in such a way that they may lose their income, need round the clock care need expensive and extensive rehabilitation, both cognitive and physical. A spinal cord injury is generally a traumatic event for a family and they will need advice and support coping with the situation. It will necessary for them to reach out to support groups and also to reach out to a group that get them compensation for what has been lost. This would not only be lost wages compensation, but lose of lifestyle and compensation that will pay for the new help that is needed to live. The Catastrophic Injury Resource Center is set up to help families get the resources that they need and also get the excellent experienced legal help they need.

If you or a family member has gone through this type of injury, you need to seek out help from a group like the Catastrophic Injury Resource Center. This group is staffed with people who understand these types of injuries and will help. Please contact them at the Catastrophic Injury Resource Center at 1-800-669-7700 or visit their website at http://www.catastrophicinjury.com for more information.