Law Offices Of Michael Pines

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Paralysis

Car and truck accidents often result in serious, life-altering injuries to the spinal cord.  The attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael Pines are experienced automobile accident lawyers who work with injured people and their families to obtain compensation for all of your medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income and pain and suffering.

Please feel free to call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE CONSULTATION with an experienced automobile accident attorney.  Our many years of practice have helped us understand how spinal cord injuries affect an injured person and their family.  We work very hard to obtain the maximum award for anyone that is paralyzed by not just recovering for pain and suffering, but for the loss of past, present and future medical expenses and loss of earnings.

About the Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is the part of the Central Nervous System that carries nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body.  We refer to it as the body’s “communication system,” because it controls what we feel and how we move our arms and legs, not to mention the control of our internal body organs such as the stomach and liver.  The spinal cord is surrounded by bones called “vertebra.”  Typically the further up the injury toward your head is on the spine, the more impairment a person will experience.  Spinal cord injuries are referred to as “complete,” meaning there is no function or sensation below the level of the injury, or “incomplete,” meaning that there is some functioning below the injury.  Paraplegia is a type of paralysis where there is a lack of function in the lower part of the body.  Quadriplegia is a type of paralysis where there is a lack of function in the arms and legs, but not necessarily total paralysis.

Cervical Vertebrae- The top eight bones in the spinal column are called the Cervical Vertebra and they are labeled C-1 through C-8.  Damage to this part of the spinal cord may cause quadriplegia, lack of function of the arms and legs and many other medical problems.

Thoracic Vertebrae- The next eight bones of the spinal column located behind the chest are called the Thoracic Vertebra and they are labeled T-1 through T-12.  If this area of the spinal cord is injured due to a car accident, a person may suffer paraplegia as well as many other injuries.

Lumbar Vertebrae- The next five bones of the spinal column, which many people refer to as their “lower back” are called the Lumbar Vertebra and they are labeled L1 through L5.  Injuries to this part of the spinal cord can cause loss of hip and leg function, as well as many other injuries.

Sacral Vertebrae- The last 5 bones at the end of the spinal column are called the Sacral Vertebra and they are labeled S1 through S5.  Auto accident injuries to this part of the spine can result in loss of hip and leg function, loss of bladder (ability to urinate) control, sexual problems and many other injures.

Recovering from Paralysis

When the spinal cord is injured, vertebrae may be fractured or dislocated, and there is usually swelling. This swelling can cause changes in every system in the body.  When the swelling begins to go down, people may get better.  However, with many injuries, especially incomplete spinal cord injuries, the injured person may continue to recover for up to 18 months after the car accident or injury.  While extremely rare, some people with spinal cord injuries only regain sensation and mobility (the ability to feel and move the injured parts of your body) years after the automobile accident or injury.  Tragically, only a very small fraction of individuals with spinal cord injuries recover completely.  An injured person can also suffer from loss of movement and muscle control.  An injured person may experience a decrease in sensation, the inability to regulate body temperature and blood pressure, inability to control breathing, loss of bladder and bowel function as well as sexual problems.  Physical therapy and rehabilitation are an important part of getting better (although most may never get back to the way they were before the auto accident).

The medical content provided on this auto accident website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice.  The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any illness, injury, or medical condition and is not a substitute for a healthcare provider’s consultation.  Please talk to your doctor if you think you may have suffered an injury or need treatment for any medical problem.  Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.  Your doctors and you are completely in charge of your medical treatment.