Every year, more than 250,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries, a majority of which are caused by motor vehicle accidents. A spinal cord injury is damage caused to the nerves and nerve fibers that send and receive signals from the brain. Being that your spinal cord reaches from your lower brain to your lower back, any kind of injury that it sustains is likely to cause a significant impact. Here, we will explore some long-term effects that are often experienced by those who have suffered a spinal cord injury.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a very commonly experienced long-term effect of a spinal cord injury. This condition causes your bones to become very brittle and weak, thus increasing the chances that you may break a bone. The prominence of osteoporosis amongst individuals with spinal cord injuries is due in part to the limited mobility caused by the injury. When you suffer a spinal cord injury, you may find it far more difficult to participate in weight-bearing activities due to the pain and discomfort experienced. To help manage osteoporosis, you can take nutrition supplements, medications, and ease into weight-bearing exercises with the help of a physical therapist.
Increased Mortality Rate
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), individuals with spinal cord injuries are two to five times more likely to die prematurely than those who have not suffered an injury. The risk of mortality is dependent on a number of factors, including injury severity, access to quality health care and more. The increased death rates are primarily caused by complications caused by spinal cord injuries, such as pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections.
Muscle Spasticity
Muscle spasticity is another long-term effect of spinal cord injuries. Spasticity refers to an involuntary, prolonged muscle contraction and stiffness. Muscle spasticity can cause a number of symptoms including pain, discomfort, and muscle spasms. This can make everyday activities, such as sleeping, dressing, and bathing, quite a challenge. The most common treatment for muscle spasticity is to partake in physical or occupational therapy, both of which will help to strengthen and stretch out your muscles.
Paralysis
Paralysis is, perhaps, the most commonly discussed long-term condition resulting from a spinal cord injury. Paralysis can range in severity from partial to complete, depending on the level of injury you sustained. Paralysis experienced as a result of a spinal cord injury will affect your motor function and sensation below the level of injury. Like muscle spasticity, paralysis can make it difficult to carry out life as usual. Rehabilitation and assistive devices, such as a wheelchair, can be used to help an individual maximize their daily function and overall quality of life.
Bowel Difficulties
One last long-term effect of a spinal cord injury is difficulty with your bowel functions. Also known as neurogenic bowel, this long-term effect causes you to experience bowel incontinence and/or constipation. This results due to a lack of control of your nervous system, as caused by the spinal cord injury. To help limit the adverse effects, individuals can modify their diet, partake in bowel training programs, take medication, or get surgery (in severe cases).
What To Do After a Spinal Cord Injury
If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, the first thing that you should immediately do is seek medical assistance. As we have learned, spinal cord injuries can have serious repercussions, of which can be potentially minimized if addressed early on. After seeking medical help, you should contact a New Haven spinal cord injury lawyer who can help you determine your legal options (if applicable). For example, if you were in a car accident and suffered a spinal cord injury as a result, you may be able to recover compensation.
