How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen

You probably don’t think about your back until it hurts. The surprisingly large number of muscles are involved in just about every movement you make on a daily basis. When you sustain a back injury, it affects every aspect of your life. Severe back injuries can affect every part of your day; when the spinal cord is involved, a back injury can change your life.

What are the effects of spinal cord injuries?

The Mayo Clinic tells us that “A spinal cord injury – damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal – often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury.” The spinal cord is the central communications hub of your body; the dense collection of nerves means that damage to any one point creates effects felt in other parts of your body.

Injuries to the spine are classified by their location on the spine and the severity of the damage. Generally, lower spine injuries have fewer effects while higher spine injuries have more. The severity of the damage is referred to as complete or incomplete. Incomplete injuries mean that some feeling is retained below the injury site, while complete injuries cut off all feeling and sensation.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries of illnesses… Further, one-fourth of all compensation indemnity claims involve back injuries.” Back injuries are so common that we often don’t think about how the spine is affected.

Slow and low-impact injuries are less likely to damage the spine, but the potential for permanent damage still exists. Spinal cord injuries are more often the result of hard or high-impact hits, such as those sustained when falling from a ladder. But work isn’t the only place that you can sustain a spinal cord injury. Even low-speed vehicle collisions can result in permanent injury; at highway speeds, it is almost inevitable that your spine will be affected.

Spinal cord injuries aren’t always immediately obvious. If you are involved in any accident, whether on the job or not, it is a good idea to seek medical treatment immediately, regardless of how you feel. When it comes to spinal cord injuries, the sooner the problem is recognized, the more treatment options you have.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of any accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced South Carolina personal injury attorneys can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC serve all of South Carolina. Contact us today for a free consultation.