Common Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury – and What to Do about Them: Advice from a New Orleans Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Your spine is a precious, highly complicated mechanism. Imagine tall scaffolding structure, carefully and diligently supporting a tall, heavy building – and now imagine how flexible that support will need to be when the building begins to walk.

Mayo Clinic defines a spinal cord injury as “damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal.” The website warns that if you have recently experienced an injury to the spinal cord, it will feel as though every aspect of your life is negatively affected.

National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center estimates that there are 17,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries in the United States every year. Currently, there are approximately 282,000 people suffering from injuries to their spinal cord.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

Accidents, including car crashes and athletic sports gone wrong;

Surgical errors;

Acts of violence, including gunshot and stabbing injuries;

And disease, such as cancer and chronic inflammation.

Many of these injuries are avoidable, and some of them are made worse instead of better by medical malpractice. If you were injured due to a health-care professional’s negligence, contact the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm

David A. Bowling is a medical malpractice lawyer in New Orleans who will evaluate your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost income and noneconomic damages.

Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation. You can also learn about medical malpractice lawsuits in Louisiana by visiting https://medical-malpractice.usattorneys.com/louisiana/

Here is a brief overview of common spinal cord injury symptoms:

What Does a Spinal Cord Injury Feel Like?

Two factors will determine the severity of your spinal cord injury and the level of care required to treat it: the location of the trauma along the spinal cord, and the degree of damage done. Depending on exactly where you were hurt and how bad the injury was, you could experience varying levels of restriction in movement and sensation.

If you suffer from one or more of these general symptoms, you could have spinal cord injury:

Reduced sensation, such as the ability to sense heat, cold and touch;

Spasms or exaggerated , uncontrolled reflexes;

Significant loss of movement in some or all of your limbs;

Inability to control bowel or bladder movements;

Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs;

Or intense pain, often described as a stinging sensation, in the upper or lower back.

Should You See a Doctor?

Yes. Anyone who suffers trauma to the neck, head or back, noticeable or otherwise, should seek medical assistance. Spinal cord injuries often only show symptoms days or weeks after occurring, so it is better to be cautious and visit a physician.

It is especially crucial to involve medical professionals in the event of an accident. More than one-third of all spinal cord injuries are caused by physical trauma arising from car or motorcycle crashes, according to the Mayo Clinic. You should be particularly concerned after a wreck if you notice:

Severe pain in the back or neck;

A numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your limbs or extremities;

Any difficulty with balance and/or walking in a straight line;

Impaired or labored breathing;

A twisted neck or back;

Or paralysis in any part of your body.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury in Louisiana, contact the The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. David A. Bowling is a New Orleans spinal cord injury attorney who will guide you through the claims process.

Mr. Bowling has more than 30 years of trial experience. He will assess your case to determine if you may be entitled to compensation. Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation.