People who are involved in a motor vehicle accident may suffer from back pain. This is something that must be handled very carefully because there’s a chance that the spinal cord was damaged in the crash. In younger individuals, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries.
Around 17,000 spinal cord injuries are diagnosed in this country each year. There’s a process to diagnosing the type and severity of their injury.
Diagnosis isn’t immediate
While you may know that you have a spinal cord injury, you may not know exactly what type or any more about it right away. The neurological exam that’s needed to determine in-depth information about the injury usually isn’t done for a few days after the injury occurs.
The spinal cord and surrounding structures might be swollen in the days immediately following a crash. This can make the effects of the spinal cord injury seem more severe and intense than what they’ll be after the swelling subsides.
Doctors will determine whether the injury is complete, which means that there isn’t any feeling or movement below the injury, or incomplete, which means there’s at least limited movement or feeling below it. The location of the injury also matters because the effects, including paralysis, occur lower on the body than the injury.
Anyone who’s dealing with a spinal cord injury after a motor vehicle crash should ensure they get all necessary medical care. They may choose to seek compensation from the party whose negligence led to the crash. This enables them to make claims for damages, including the cost of medical care and wages they were unable to earn because of the injury. California law limits the amount of time you have to file your claim, so be sure not to delay seeking legal guidance.