Have You Suffered a Spinal Cord Injury?

Spinal cord injuries may cause immense pain and suffering, leaving you unable to enjoy life like you did before the injury. How do you receive compensation?

Every year, many people suffer debilitating work-related injuries that render them permanently disabled. Some injured workers are not able to return to their normal life routine, including returning to work. One of the most debilitating of all work related injuries are spinal cord injuries. These injuries may occur as a result of a workplace accident or because of prolonged and repetitive use of certain parts of the body.

At a workplace, spinal cord injuries are most often caused by a falling object or by slip and fall accidents. Construction workers are often at the risk of getting injured by heavy equipment or by an object falling on them. Workers employed at manufacturing units are also prone to spinal cord injuries.

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury is an injury that causes dislocation or fracture of the vertebrae. Spinal cord injuries do not mean that the spinal cord is severed or injured; it can simply mean pressure or tear on the nerves that transfer signals from the brain to the other parts of the body. In case of a serious spinal cord injury, the cord is rendered incapable of carrying signals to any body part below the injury. It may cause partial or total paralysis.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury where the cord has been completely severed is termed as a complete spinal cord injury. It results in complete loss of sensation and motor function below the injured area. An example of complete spinal cord injury is quadriplegia, which means paralysis that starts at the neck and continues downwards. However, if the spinal cord has not been completely severed, it would be termed as an incomplete spinal cord injury. It causes temporary loss of sensation or motor function, but it can heal with proper medical treatment and rest.

Whether the worker has suffered a complete or incomplete spinal cord injury, the injured worker may have to suffer immense pain, and may not be able to enjoy life like he/she did before the injury.

Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries

According to Missouri workers’ compensation attorneys, some common symptoms of a spinal cord injury include :

• Loss of sensation
• Intense tingling sensation
• Pain
• Loss of motor function
• Inability to control bladder functions
• Difficulty coughing or even breathing
• Uncontrollable spasms
• Increased reflex functions

If someone experiences any of the aforementioned symptoms, he/she should immediately consult a doctor about the condition. Apart from these symptoms, other signs that can necessitate a doctor visit include numbness in the extremities, loss of consciousness, pressure in the head, neck, or back area, or impaired breathing.

Work Related Injuries