Being in a motor vehicle accident left you shaken, and you may have injuries you do not yet realize. Did you hurt your spine during the incident?
Johns Hopkins Medicine explains spinal cord injury symptoms. Get the facts on these injuries, so you know how to build your legal case.
Variances
One essential fact about spinal cord injuries is their symptoms vary. The affected body part depends on injury location, which determines symptom severity. You may notice less intense or a loss of muscle movement, reflexes or sensation immediately after sustaining an injury. Once inflammation eases, you may notice additional symptoms.
Usually, the higher the injury on the spinal cord, the more intense the symptoms. For instance, if the auto accident injured your neck, you could have trouble breathing. Lower spinal cord injuries may affect bowel and bladder control and sexual function.
Common symptoms
Some indications of spinal cord injury are more common than others. These include difficulty breathing, muscle weakness and loss of voluntary muscle movement in the chest or limbs. You may also experience a loss of sensation in your chest and limbs.
Diagnosis
If you experience the above symptoms, have a doctor run tests. That way, you have an accurate diagnosis and know what treatment to pursue. Medical professionals use blood tests and X-rays to diagnose spinal cord harm. Magnetic resonance imaging tests use radio frequencies and magnets to produce detailed images of bodily structures. Computed tomography scans use X-rays to create detailed images of body parts.
Watch yourself for spinal cord injury symptoms. Quick action and the right facts could help build your legal case.
