A spine injury is one of the most painful and serious injuries that a person can incur after an accident. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, there are approximately 54 cases per million (or 17,000) new spinal cord injuries each year in the country. This statistic does not even include those who died at the scene of the accident. Most spinal cord injuries are caused by vehicle crashes, followed by falls, acts of violence (primarily gunshot wounds), and sports/recreation activities.
The most common types of spinal injuries you can receive are the following:
- Spinal fractures- Spinal fractures occur as a result of your upper body being thrown while your lower body is held in place (this is often due to your seatbelt if you’re in a car accident). This action can pull your vertebrae apart, which can cause spinal fractures and possible spinal cord injuries. This will cause severe back pain and potentially tingling, numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
- Disc herniation- If your back is hit in an accident or some other type of impact, a disc in your spine will absorb the impact. This will cause the soft center of the disc to push through the harder exterior. This will irritate the surrounding nerves and cause arm or leg pain, as well as tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected area.
- Spondylolisthesis – Spondylolisthesis is a condition where the vertebrate are dislocated due to a stress fracture. A displaced bone will press against the nerves or cause a narrowing effect on the spinal canal. Symptoms for this condition may not show up right away and might include weakness in the leg, difficulty walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
HOW TO FIND A DOCTOR FOR YOUR SPINE INJURY
Your brain and spinal cord work together to form your central nervous system, which can regulate everything your body does from digestion to reflexes. An injury that causes a spine injury can be a devastating blow to how someone lives their life, but with the right treatment and rehabilitation, your brain and spinal cord can learn to work around your injuries.
To move on with your life, it’s essential to find a doctor who can help you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible. Not only should you look for quality care, but you’ll need to seek care from a doctor who specializes in the brain or spinal cord. If you need help with your spinal cord injury, ask your insurance company for physician recommendations or check out physician directories of doctors who specialize in this kind of care.
After visiting a physician, you should also contact a personal injury lawyer who can help represent your interests in court and help you pursue compensation for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision in Georgia that caused a spine injury, contact the Fry Law firm today at (404) 948-3571 to set up a consultation.
