The spine controls body movement, so spinal injuries can disrupt functions and may lead to partial or complete paralysis. The effects of paralysis are not only physical but also emotional, mental, and social. Hire Northern Plains Justice for your Sioux Falls Motorcycle spinal cord injury lawyer.
Medical science can’t yet repair spinal injuries, so a motorcycle crash may require lifelong care if one occurs.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
Immediately after your accident, you might not have any symptoms at all. In the days following the crash, though, any of the following symptoms could mean that you have a spinal cord injury:
- A feeling of pressure or pain in the back, head, or neck.
- A loss of bladder or bowel control.
- Sexual dysfunction.
- Problems with coordination or balance.
- Weakness or immobility in any part of the body.
- Numbness or tingling in fingers, toes, or other extremities.
- Breathing problems.
- Back or neck stiffness.
- Trouble with balance, mobility, or coordination.
It’s important to get medical attention as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident. A doctor’s exam and/or X-rays might reveal injuries you don’t even know you have. The time between injury and treatment impacts potential complications and recovery outcomes.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
Complete
Motorcyclists with complete spinal cord injuries lose all sensation and movement below the injury, resulting in paraplegia or quadriplegia (tetraplegia).
Incomplete
Victims with incomplete spinal cord injuries retain some sensory and motor function below the injury site. Just how much function remains depends upon the specific injury. Some examples are:
- Anterior cord syndrome. Only the front of the spinal cord is affected. Victims who suffer anterior cord syndrome might lose sensation below the point of injury and/or have problems with body temperature.
- Central cord syndrome. Only the middle of the spinal cord is affected. Central cord syndrome may cause arm movement loss while preserving leg function.
- Posterior cord syndrome. Only the back of the spinal cord is affected. Victims with posterior cord syndrome might lose some of their coordination but still be able to feel sensations.
- Brown-Sequard syndrome. Either the right or left side of the spinal cord is affected, but the opposite side is intact. Brown-Sequard syndrome may cause movement loss on one side with sensation intact, while the other side retains movement but loses sensation.
- Cauda equina lesion. The nerves between the first and second lumbar regions are affected, causing a complete or partial loss of sensation.
Spinal Stenosis
Stenosis occurs when the accident dislocates or fractures the back, putting pressure on the spinal nerves and causing pain, loss of feeling, weakness, and/or a tendency to fall down easily.
Have You Suffered a Spinal Cord Injury in a South Dakota Motorcycle Accident?
Just as medical attention is critical to understanding and dealing with your injury, consulting an experienced motorcycle accident attorney is critical to receiving the compensation you deserve for your medical care, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact us online, start a chat, or call us at 605-644-5003 to schedule a free consultation. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees until we win your case.
