Early Signs That You May Have Spinal Cord Injury

Whether it is after an accident at the construction site, a motor vehicle crash or through old age, spinal cord injuries are catastrophic conditions that require immediate attention to prevent it from becoming a lifelong difficulty.

Unfortunately to most Arizona citizens, it might not be obvious right away that they are suffering from the damage. Spinal cord injuries impact internal bodily functions, so they can remain hidden for a potentially long amount of time. If you had a recent accident that you believe caused major damage to your spine, you need to look out for some of these symptoms so you can receive medical treatment as soon as you can.

Painful and weak movement

The spinal cord impacts how you can control your limbs. Unlucky victims could lose control of their legs and become paraplegic. Even if you do not experience that level of paralysis immediately, the injury can still impact how you move and feel.

Walking can become incredibly difficult in this condition as your legs will feel numb, weak and imbalanced. If it continues, you could experience a loss in movement all together. If you start experiencing a loss of sensation in more areas such as your arms or hands, you could be at risk of a tetraplegia.

The pain might be the most obvious sign, as you can feel extreme discomfort around your head, back or neck. Be sure to check how these parts are positioned, as the injury could leave them looking physically out of place.

Difficulty with breathing and bladder control

Even if your bladder, kidneys, intestines and stomach do not receive any prior damage, the spinal cord impacts how you control these parts as your brain cannot successfully signal them in this state. If the inconvenience was not enough, you also risk developing a neurogenic bladder with urinary tract infections due to your change in bladder movements.

Your spinal damage could also negatively impact your respiratory system and make it harder to breath. You might experience frequent weak coughing, difficulty sleeping and can tire out from physical activity very quickly.

How to respond

If you have these conditions and they start to worsen, you need to get medical assistance from a local Phoenix hospital as soon as you can. Try not to transport yourself in case you start losing movement or bodily functions and make sure whoever takes you tries to keep you still and minimize any spinal movements.

The most common cause of spinal cord injuries comes from motor vehicle accidents, but it can also occur from falling or getting struck by a heavy object at a construction site. With how expensive surgeries for spinal treatment can get, you should consult with an experienced work injury attorney to get compensation for your damages caused by a negligent driver.