Spinal cord injuries are severe injuries that require extensive recovery time and process. Identifying the signs of a healing spinal cord injury can be tricky because each is unique, making the journey different. Elements such as the level of the injury, medical history, age, overall health, and type of spinal cord injury can all affect the healing process for the injured victim. Keeping a journal is recommended when recovering from spinal cord injuries so there is a log of personal progress and achieving small goals.
What Should I Know About SCIs
Spinal cord injuries are one of the most dangerous because the spinal cord plays an essential role in the human body. Damage to the spinal cord may result in impaired movement and sensation below the injury site. When sustaining a spinal cord injury, victims are likely to experience some of the following symptoms:
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Loss of movement
- Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility
- Loss of or altered sensation
- Pain or intense stinging
- Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
Victims of an SCI may also experience emergency symptoms, which include:
- Difficulty balancing and walking
- Extreme back pain or pressure in the head, back, or neck
- Impaired breathing immediately after the injury
- Tingling, loss of sensation, or numbness in feet, hands, toes, or fingers
- Oddly positions or twisted back or neck
- Weakness, paralysis, or incoordination in the body
Can I Recovery from My SCI
It is likely for victims of spinal cord injuries to fully recover from their injuries. Recovery time typically depends on the severity of the damage, but most recoveries of victims who are not permanently affected happen within three to six months after the injury. Another determining factor of how long it will take to recover from a sci is if there are any secondary complications. Secondary complications can interfere with the victim's motivation and performance, and when not managed properly, they can negatively affect recovery time. Common secondary complications include:
- Pressure sores
- Changes in body composition
- Breathing problems
- Spasticity
- Autonomic dysreflexia
- Neurogenic bladder/bowel
Signs of Spinal Cord Injury Recovery
To best track SCI recovery progress, victims are encouraged to journal or track progress to help notice any changes. Every SCI is different, so recovery could vary depending on the victim's specific case. Some of the most common signs of spinal cord injury may classify as any of the following:
Spasticity Below the Injury Site
Spasticity occurs when signals between the brain and areas below the SCI site are disrupted, which may also result in hyperreflexia and involuntary muscle spasms. Although spasticity is a condition that often requires rehabilitation to improve, it is also a sign of recovery, this is due to motor signals being able to pass through the spinal cord for muscles even to contract at all.
Tingling Below the Site of the Injury
If victims feel mild tingling after their injury, it could be a sign that they are recovering. The tingling sensation is a reaction of sensory nerves regenerating and restoring, which can cause pin and needle sensation, tingling, and sometimes burning.
Pain Below the Level of Injury
Victims are often worried when they feel pain after sustaining a spinal cord injury, but surprisingly, this can be a symptom of recovery. Signals below the injury site reaching the brain allow the victims to feel any pain that may be present, which lets us know the injury is incomplete rather than complete. Incomplete SCIs are more likely to see better recovery results.
Contact an Attorney
Dealing with the legal matters of your spinal cord injuries can be exhausting and stressful, especially when trying to recover. You deserve to take time to heal without worrying about your case and its success. This is why working with a skilled spine injury attorney is always recommended, as you will have someone on your side to represent you. Here at Christiansen Trial Lawyers we have a team of experienced attorneys who are dedicated to fighting for your rights. Let us get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today at (702) 357-9977 or visit us online to schedule your free case review.