Reviewing the Potential for Recovery from a Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal-Injuries

Spinal cord trauma ranks among the most severe type of injury one may suffer
in Indianapolis. The assumption that many may have is that severe physical
impairments and/or paralysis is sure to follow, yet that is not always
true. Many of the 17,000 people that the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical
Center reports
suffer spinal cord injuries each year in America may be able to recover to a certain degree.

One’s anticipated level of recovery depends largely on the area of
the spine where his or her injury occurred. According to the Shepherd
Center, the spine is divided into
four regions:

  • Cervical
  • Thoracic
  • Lumbar
  • Sacral

Those who suffer injuries in the sacral region will likely retain the ability
to walk. They may, however, experience a decrease in control of their
bowel and bladder movements, as well as limited loss of function in the
hips or legs. Injuries occurring in the lumbar region are likely to produce
similar results, with the most obvious difference being that one may require
a wheelchair or other assistive devices in order to ambulate.

People whose spinal cord injuries are localized in the thoracic region
are likely to be left as paraplegics. Yet they may retain total control
over their upper bodies, which could allow them to manually operate a
wheelchair an even drive a modified car.

Injuries that occur in the cervical region are typically the most severe,
The most common result is quadriplegia, with those whose injuries are
limited to the lower cervical region being able to continue to have some
function in their extremities and to be able to speak normally and breathe
on their own.

The potential for
recovery from a spinal cord injury may influence one’s decision to seek compensation. Those looking to
initiate such action should
contact the Tabor Law Firm.

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