Understanding Spinal Cord Injury

Many accidents cause different injuries to different parts of our body. If you are involved in an accident, whether vehicular accidents, slip and fall accident or premise liability, one of the worst things that could happen to you is waking up at the hospital paralyzed.

One major cause of paralysis in accidents is attributable to spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries usually begin with a trauma or blow that fractures or dislocates the vertebrae. Vertebrae, to review your basic college anatomy, are the bone disks that make up your spine. It does not take much to become paralyzed from an accident. The blow to the spinal cord need not be so severe before paralysis can occur. Paralysis can easily occur when bony fragments of vertebrae tear into the cord tissue or press down on the spinal nerves that carry signals from the brain to different parts of our body.

Spinal cord injury is categorized as complete and incomplete injury. In incomplete injury, there is some movement and sensation in parts of the body below the injured area. In complete spinal injury however, there is total paralysis below the injured nerves.

It does not matter actually, if you are careful in driving or in performing your work or daily activities. It only takes an accident, or a negligent third party to cause the accident that may result in your spinal cord injury. It is best, therefore, to have an understanding of spinal cord injury, the symptoms and the treatments necessary in order to cope with the injury.

If you happen to see somebody who figured in an accident and suspects that the person may have spinal injury you must:

1. Dial 911 immediately;
2. Keep the person still and place towels on both sides of the head to prevent neck movement;
3. If you think the person is not breathing, you can begin CPR but do not tilt the head; and
4. If, on the other hand, you need to tilt the head of the person or roll the person to his or her side, be sure that you have extra help to make sure that the neck is kept still.

Your quick thinking may just save a person from paralysis.

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For more information about Spinal Cord Injury and other personal injuries, visit our Expert Los Angeles Attorneys site.

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