Difficulties Faced By Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are some of the most devastating and life-changing injuries an accident victim can face. In fact, even when spinal cord injuries do heal, a spinal cord injury survivor’s life is rarely the same. They may be left dealing with some degree of permanent impairment or even PTSD from the traumatic event.
It is estimated that a spinal cord injury occurs every 30 minutes in the United States. This amounts to nearly 18,000 people a year who suffer from a wide range of spinal cord injuries. Some are left permanently paralyzed, while others are left with just a minor loss of sensation.
After a spinal cord injury, the recovery process is long and arduous, and no two cases are exactly the same. Many spinal cord injury survivors never regain movement again.
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury after an accident, it is important to understand the rehabilitation and recovery process. Any settlement or award you receive should adequately reflect the extensive recovery process you may endure and the future complications you may face as a result of your injury.
Initial Treatment After a Spinal Cord Injury
Initially, after an accident, doctors and medical professionals will focus on stabilizing the accident victim and preventing further spinal cord damage. If doctors diagnose a spinal cord injury, patients are usually started on high doses of steroids to decrease the amount of inflammation and swelling. Many cases of spinal cord injury require surgery to stabilize the spine and relieve pressure on the delicate spinal cord.
Rehabilitation After a Spinal Cord Injury
After the spinal cord injury survivor is initially treated and stabilized, the rest of the recovery process will focus on rehabilitation. This includes extensive physical and occupational therapy sessions, as well as training to use a variety of assistive devices.
Recovery After a Spinal Cord Injury
Unfortunately, recovering from a spinal cord injury isn’t easy. Unlike other parts of the body, the spinal cord does not have the ability to heal itself or regenerate.
Although the use of assistive devices allows people with severe spinal cord injuries to integrate into society easily, many spinal cord injury survivors still feel isolated and burdensome to their family members and caregivers. As such, they may struggle with depression and mental health issues.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for spinal cord injuries, although many advancements in research have been made in recent years.
Contact Our Providence spinal cord injuries Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury after an accident, our law firm can help. At Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd, our Providence spinal cord injury lawyers know that spinal cord injuries require extensive rehabilitation and care. Many spinal cord injury survivors’ lives are never the same. As such, they require compensation for their medical expenses, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Call us today at (401) 273-8330 or fill out our confidential contact form for a free initial consultation and review of your case. We know the uphill battle spinal cord injury survivors face, and we are here to make that journey a little easier. Call today.