|
What is spinal cord injury?
|
|
What are the symptoms of back injury?
|
|
What causes back pain?
|
|
What is the anatomy of the back?
|
|
What are some risk factors that can lead to back pain or injury?
|
|
What are common causes of back and neck injuries?
|
|
What damages can I seek in my back injury claim?
|
|
What is a spinal cord injury?
|
|
What treatments are available for back injury?
|
|
Should I consult an attorney if I wish to make a claim due to back
injury? |
|
|
Spinal Cord Injury Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What is spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when a traumatic event results in
damage to cells within the spinal cord or severs the nerve tracts
that relay signals up and down the spinal cord. The most common
types of SCI include contusion (bruising of the spinal cord) and
compression (caused by pressure on the spinal cord). Other types of
injuries include lacerations (severing or tearing of some nerve
fibers, such as damage caused by a gun shot wound), and central cord
syndrome (specific damage to the corticospinal tracts of the
cervical region of the spinal cord).
Back
To Top
2.
What are the symptoms of spinal cord injury?
Severe SCI often causes paralysis (loss of control over voluntary
movement and muscles of the body) and loss of sensation and reflex
function below the point of injury, including autonomic activity
such as breathing and other activities such as bowel and bladder
control. Other symptoms such as pain or sensitivity to stimuli,
muscle spasms, and sexual dysfunction may develop over time. SCI
patients are also prone to develop secondary medical problems, such
as bladder infections, lung infections, and bedsores.
|
|
3. What causes back pain?
In general,
back pain is a sensation transmitted through the nerves and can
occur when muscles go into spasm, which is frequently the case with
back injuries. A muscle spasm is an abrupt and forceful contraction
of a muscle, which can last from several minutes to hours. It is
often associated with great pain. Pressure or pinching of the nerves
in the spine can also cause severe pain in the back and legs.
|
|
Back To
Top |
4.
What is the anatomy of the back?
The back is an intricate structure of bones, ligaments, muscles,
nerves, and tendons. The backbone, or spine, is made up of 31 bony
segments called vertebrae:
7 cervical (neck) vertebrae
12 thoracic (middle back) vertebrae
5 lumbar (lower back) vertebrae
5 sacral (lowest area of the back) vertebrae
1 coccygeal (coccyx, or tailbone) vertebra (made up of
several fused segments)
The vertebrae are arranged in a long vertical column and held
together by ligaments, which are attached to muscles by tendons.
Between each vertebra lies a gel-like cushion called an
intervertebral disc, consisting of semifluid matter that is
surrounded by a capsule of elastic fibers.
|
|
Back To
Top |
5.
What are some risk factors that can lead to back pain or injury?
Aging produces wear and tear on the spine.
Physically demanding occupations that require repetitive
bending and lifting.
Being sedentary (i.e., not exercising regularly or
engaging in physical recreation) and being overweight.
Poor posture, such as slouching in a chair, driving
hunched over, standing incorrectly, and using poor body mechanics
when lifting and carrying heavy loads.
Sports that involve twisting the back, like golf.
Joint and/or bone disease (osteoporosis, arthritis) and
infectious disease (spinal meningitis).
|
|
Back To
Top |
6.
What are common causes of back and neck injuries?
Car Accidents; Violent Attacks; Slip and fall; Sports-related
Accidents; and Lifting. The most common types of injuries inflicted
by such incidences are:
Spinal Cord Injury - The spinal cord is severely injured
in an accident and may result in loss of motion or feeling to the
lower extremities or permanent paralysis.
Slipped Disc - The pads of cartilage in between each
vertebra in your spine can be damaged or become herniated.
Compression Fractures - The bones of the spine break due
to severe trauma.
Whiplash - The most common neck injury after a car
accident, the neck can snap and become overextended.
|
|
Back To
Top |
7.
What damages can I seek in my back injury claim?
Back and neck injuries sustained from an accident due to another
person's negligence may entitled you to back and neck injury
compensation. An experienced back and neck injury attorney can
recover damages for the financial losses suffered, in addition to
the pain and suffering both physically and emotionally.
|
|
Back To
Top |
8.
What is a spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injury is damage to the nerves within the spinal canal.
Most are caused by trauma and affect the spinal cord's ability to
send and receive messages from the brain to the body's systems that
control sensory, motor and autonomic function below the level of
injury.
|
|
Back To
Top |
9.
What treatments are available for back injury?
Research on this matter is ongoing. Current treatments for back
injury include:
- drug treatments
- therapies
- surgery
- nerve cell transplantation
- nerve regeneration
While recent advances in emergency care and rehabilitation allow
many SCI patients to survive, methods for reducing the extent of
injury and for restoring function are still limited. Immediate
treatment for acute SCI includes techniques to relieve cord
compression, prompt (within 8 hours of the injury) drug therapy with
corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone to minimize cell damage,
and stabilization of the vertebrae of the spine to prevent further
injury. |
|
Back To
Top |
10.
Should I consult an attorney if I wish to make a claim due to back
injury?
Yes. It is always wise to contact an experienced personal injury
attorney to handle a back injury case. Back, neck and spine injuries
involve complex litigation. With the right attorney on your side,
you will be more likely to achieve success. |
