Your day may have started out just like any other. You could have been on your way to work or had just dropped the kids off at school when suddenly another driver hit your vehicle. Rather than being involved in a minor fender-bender, the accident was serious, and you suffered injuries.
Due to adrenaline and emotions you may have felt after the crash, you may not have immediately realized that the accident had hurt your back. However, before or maybe only after emergency crews arrived, you may have noticed that something was seriously wrong. After emergency personnel took you to the hospital, you learned that you had suffered a spinal cord injury.
Physical effects
Spinal cord injuries can have a variety of physical effects. Because damage to the spinal cord impedes your body’s ability to send various messages to your brain, such as those that trigger your limbs to move, you may end up with reflex, sensory and motor function problems as a result of your injury. Additional effects include the following:
- Loss of sensation
- Exaggerated reflex actions
- Spasms
- Pain
- Intense stinging sensations
- Loss of movement
- Inability to control your bowels and bladder
- Changes in fertility or sexual function
The exact outcomes you experience may depend on the severity of your injury and the location on the spine where the injury occurred. If your injury affected a high area on your spine, you may experience more issues than if the injury had affected a lower area. You may also retain some movement and sensation in your affected limbs or possibly lose all movement and sensation.
Recovery
After learning the news of your exact injury, you likely knew that you have a difficult road ahead of you. The manner and pace at which your recovery takes place will depend on the specific details of your case. At times, you may find yourself wanting to give up, and emotional struggles do often come with the physical hardships of such an injury.
Because you will undoubtedly face medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other difficulties resulting from your injury, you may want to consider seeking compensation from the driver considered at fault for the injury-causing accident. Filing a personal injury claim may help you with this endeavor if you wish to pursue it. Obtaining information from local Florida legal resources may help you understand this possible option.
