Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious types of injuries an individual may experience, and many Indiana residents who suffer these injuries become unable to work or earn a living in the aftermath. While spinal cord injuries result from various circumstances, many people who suffer them do so during falls.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, spinal cord injuries occur when someone’s vertebrae take a serious blow. The fractured bones in the vertebrae then cause damage to an individual’s spinal cord and nerves, causing serious pain and other symptoms for the affected party.
Types of spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries typically fall into one of two categories: complete or incomplete. Complete spinal cord injuries result in a complete loss of function, meaning individuals who suffer these types of injuries experience either partial or total paralysis. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are those that allow the body and brain to still communicate to some degree. Those who suffer incomplete spinal cord injuries typically maintain at least some function on one or both sides of their bodies.
Symptoms associated with spinal cord injuries
The symptoms associated with a spinal cord injury vary to some extent based on whether a fall victim suffers a complete or incomplete injury. However, many people who suffer from them experience weakness in their arms and legs, intense pain emanating from the back or neck and difficulty breathing. Some with these injuries also develop lumps along their spines or experience a lack of control over their bladders or bowels.
While anyone runs the risk of suffering a spinal cord injury in a fall, research suggests that older adults are especially at risk.
