Recovering from a Spinal Cord Injury

The spinal cord is an integral part of the central nervous system, relaying signals between the body and brain. Thus, spinal cord injuries sustained during car accidents, falls, and other incidents can cause pain, paralysis, and disability that may be permanent or temporary. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury, it’s important to seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney to pursue the compensation you deserve.

Acute Treatment

The first stage of spinal cord injury recovery is acute treatment, which takes place immediately following the injury itself. During this stage, the damage to your spinal cord and body is assessed and immediate treatment administered to restore general health. Because spinal cord injuries often occur during severe accidents, this stage of treatment mainly focuses on restoring your health so you can function outside of an acute care setting, such as a hospital or emergency room. In some cases, surgery or other treatments may be used to repair damaged portions of the spine to eliminate pressure on the nerves and protect the spinal cord. The acute phase of treatment ends when your health is stabilized and you are ready to move on to the next stage of spinal cord injury recovery.

Rehabilitation

After acute treatment has been completed, the second stage of spinal cord injury recovery, called rehabilitation, begins. During this phase, you will work toward regaining mobility and independence, which may have been lost due to paralysis, pain, or other consequences of your spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation is mainly comprised of physical therapy and specialized exercises meant to rebuild strength, coordination, balance, and overall fitness. Depending on your injury, this phase may be short or ongoing; there is no set timetable for the duration of rehabilitation following a spinal cord injury.

Damage to the spinal cord and other injuries can cause long-term changes in your everyday life—a personal injury attorney in Tucson can help you receive compensation for coverage of medical bills, lost time at work, and more. You can contact Hameroff Law Group on the web or by calling (520) 792-4700 for more information today.