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Causes and symptoms of acute spinal cord injuries

A spinal cord injury, regardless of the cause or severity, is nothing to take lightly. This can have a big impact on a person’s life, from the way they cope on a daily basis to their financial situation to their medical treatment and needs.

According to The Johns Hopkins Hospital, there are many causes of acute spinal cord injuries. Most injuries are caused when the spine is compressed or bent, which can be the result of the following:

— Motor vehicle accident, either when a person is in a vehicle or hit as a pedestrian

— Birth injuries

— Slip and fall or trip and fall accidents

— Diving accidents

— Sports injuries, such as in a contact game like football

Now that you are aware of some of the common causes of acute spinal cord injuries, it is important to learn more about the symptoms.

The symptoms of an injury depend on many factors, including the location as well as the severity. Immediately following an accident, a person may experience spinal shock, which leads to a loss of muscle movement and feeling. This can last for several weeks before giving away to other symptoms, such as paralysis, digestive problems, muscle weakness, loss of feeling, breathing problems and sexual dysfunction.

Spinal cord injuries are very serious. In some cases, a person can fully recover, but this is not common. When a person suffers from a spinal cord injury due to the negligence of another, such as a drunk driver, he or she may wish to consult with an attorney to better understand his or her legal rights.

Source: The Johns Hopkins Hospital, “Spinal Cord Injury” Oct. 16, 2014