Some injuries are so devastating that people may assume they can identify them immediately. People checking themselves for injuries after a crash might assume that they can instantly identify a spinal cord injury, but that isn’t necessarily true.
Spinal cord injuries are among the most feared traumatic injuries due to their permanent, devastating symptoms. They affect motor function and sensation, cause career complications and generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in lifetime medical expenses. Most people assume that if they injure their spinal cords in a car crash, they should notice the injury instantly. They may think they won’t be able to walk or get out of the vehicle.
Despite what many people believe, delayed symptom onset is somewhat common when people injure their spines. If those involved in car crashes do not receive immediate medical care, they are at risk of their conditions worsening due to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
Incomplete injuries are common
Medical professionals generally classify spinal cord injuries into two main categories. There are complete spinal cord injuries, which cause immediate and permanent paralysis due to the injury severing the spinal cord. There is no treatment that can repair a severed spinal cord.
People can also sustain incomplete spinal cord injuries that pinch, tear or otherwise damage the spinal cord. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are easy for people to overlook, especially in the minutes immediately after a crash.
The human stress response often hides the pain and muscle spasms associated with incomplete spinal cord injuries. Those with incomplete injuries are at risk of abrupt motions or intense exertion exacerbating their medical condition. People can worsen incomplete injuries, making them complete injuries that cause permanent paralysis.
Timely medical intervention, appropriate spinal stabilization and rehabilitative care can help people minimize the risk of a spinal cord injury worsening or causing lasting functional impairment. When a car crash leads to a spinal cord injury, the affected party may need help pursuing compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages. They may need assistance evaluating compensation options and quantifying their lifetime economic losses.
Reviewing a diagnosis and the circumstances of a car crash with a personal injury attorney can help those with spinal cord injuries limit the financial impact of their injuries.
