The spinal cord controls movement, sensation, and even automatic functions like breathing and digestion. When it gets damaged, those signals get blocked, and depending on where the injury occurs, the results can range from mild weakness to complete paralysis.
A spinal cord injury can affect every aspect of a person’s life. It can impact their physical abilities, emotional well-being, and financial stability. Victims may struggle to come to terms with their new reality.
In this difficult time, it’s essential to hire a spinal cord injury lawyer who can help navigate the complex process of seeking compensation and provide guidance on what the future may hold.
The impact of a spinal cord injury can be felt far beyond the initial accident. It can affect relationships, careers, and overall quality of life. In this article, we’ll explore the ways in which a spinal cord injury can wreck a victim’s life and what can be done to support those affected.
How Does a Spinal Cord Injury Affect the Body?
Here are some of the different ways in which a spinal cord injury affects the body:
- Paralysis: One of the most well-known effects of spinal cord damage is paralysis. If the injury is high on the spine, it can cause quadriplegia, meaning both the arms and legs lose function. If it’s lower, it can lead to paraplegia, where only the legs are affected. Some people still have some movement or feeling, while others lose all control below the injury site.
- Chronic pain: Not all spinal cord injuries result in complete numbness. Some victims experience severe nerve pain, which can feel like burning, stabbing, or electric shocks. This pain can be constant and difficult to manage.
- Loss of bladder and bowel control: The spinal cord plays a major role in controlling these functions. After an injury, many people struggle with incontinence or constipation and have to rely on catheters or other medical interventions.
- Breathing problems: If the injury affects the muscles that control breathing, a person may need a ventilator or struggle with respiratory infections due to weak lung function.
- Muscle atrophy and spasms: When muscles aren’t being used, they weaken and shrink over time. On the other hand, some people experience involuntary muscle spasms, which can be painful and disruptive.
- Circulatory issues: Blood pressure can drop dangerously low, or circulation may be poor, increasing the risk of blood clots and other complications.
How Does a Spinal Cord Injury Affect Mental Health?
Physical problems are only half the battle. Here are some of the ways this injury takes a toll on the victim mentally and emotionally:
- Depression: When someone suddenly loses their ability to move freely, it’s natural to feel hopeless. Depression is common, and without proper support, it can become overwhelming.
- Anxiety: The fear of the unknown, such as how life will change, whether relationships will last, and if they’ll be able to work again, can create extreme anxiety for them.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): If the injury happened in a traumatic event like a car crash or violent attack, victims may relive that moment over and over again, making it hard to move forward.
- Social isolation: Many spinal cord injury victims withdraw from friends and family. They may feel like a burden or struggle with feeling different. Loneliness can set in, making recovery even harder.
Conclusion
Most spinal cord injuries happen because of sudden trauma such as car crashes, bad falls, sports accidents, or acts of violence like gunshot wounds. The severity depends on how much damage the spinal cord sustains. Some people regain partial function with treatment and therapy, while others face permanent, life-altering consequences.
The sooner a spinal cord injury is treated, the better the chances of preventing further damage. If the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, a lawyer can help secure financial compensation.
