According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, nearly 300,000 people in the United States are living with some kind of spinal cord injury (SCI). Every year, an additional 12,500 new sufferers are seen in American hospitals and emergency rooms, making SCI awareness extremely important. Your spinal cord is the communication center for your body, controlling muscles, tendons, and body movement, so any type of injury can be functionally catastrophic.
To understand the extent of an SCI, you must first understand the spinal cord. Your spinal cord is made up of nerves, muscles, and vertebrae that transmit neural signals from your brain to different parts of your body. If this transmission is interrupted, your brain will be unable to communicate with certain parts of your body. This interruption can cause paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower body) or quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs) depending on where the transmission was interrupted.
Three Treatment Sets for Three Injury Types
Depending on the severity and location of the injury along the spinal cord, five different outcomes are possible: short-term paraplegia, long-term paraplegia, short-term quadriplegia, long-term quadriplegia, and compression injuries. SCI treatment has been expanding to incorporate new ways of caring for each type of injury instead of relying on one blanket treatment option for all types of SCIs. The different options allow for care and attention to specific problems and also allow caregivers to treat patients’ individual needs and concerns.
Some of these specified treatments include:
- Paraplegia (short-term and long-term). Possible treatment options include experimental surgery, stem cell therapy, braces to stabilize the midsection, physical therapies, and physical endurance testing to help strengthen muscles and motility.
- Spinal compression. Treatments include traction therapy, aqua therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic care, surgery, medication, and back and leg braces.
- Quadriplegia. Options for care include braces and stabilizing units to cradle the head and neck, stem cell therapies, technologically-advanced wheelchairs and mobility aids, extensive physical and psychological counseling, and electroconvulsive therapy.
Hopefully, with continued medical determination, the growing number of SCI sufferers living in the United States will soon have multiple treatment options available to help get them back on their feet. Until then, current treatments must be used for optimum chance of recovery.
You Are Entitled to Treatment and Support
New SCI research, treatment and therapies are being developed every day. Unfortunately, many experimental or technologically-based treatments can be extremely expensive, especially for those who are already paying exorbitant medical fees. However, we believe that price shouldn’t keep you from the care and support you need, especially if your injury was sustained through no fault of your own. Contact us today for a free consultation about whether you’re entitled to damages and compensation. It’s our job to not only fight to get you the money you need for your treatment, but to also give you the support and comfort you deserve. Call today to see how we can help you!
Would you be interested in helping others like you? Write your thoughts, questions, and experiences in the comment section. By doing so, you’ll share your support, kindness, and wisdom with those who need as much encouragement and advocacy as they can get. Remember, there are nearly 299,999 other people living every day with the same struggles as you.