Many people who hear that someone has a spinal cord injury may automatically think about paralysis, but that’s not the only effect that can stem from one of these injuries. In some cases, the effects that a person experiences immediately after the spinal cord injury may be worse than the person will experience long-term.
Spinal shock is possible in the period immediately following the injury. This occurs when the body tries to protect the spinal cord, which leads to inflammation. The inflammation can cause symptoms, such as temporary paralysis or pain. Once the spinal inflammation is reduced, which may require medication management, the symptoms will abate.
Type of injury can affect the recovery
Spinal cord injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. Typically, a complete injury is associated with a less comprehensive recovery than an incomplete injury. A complete injury is associated with fully severed nerves at the site of the injury, but there are some nerve connections remaining with an incomplete injury.
Besides the type of injury, there are other factors that impact how an individual recovers from this type of injury. One of these is how fast the victim receives medical care. Another is the type of care the person receives. Proper medical care and comprehensive rehabilitation can also improve the chances of a better recovery.
Receiving treatment for a spinal cord injury can be costly. Victims may opt to pursue a compensation claim if their injury was the result of another person’s negligence. It may benefit them to work with someone familiar with these matters.