Can You Recover from an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury?

Incomplete spinal cord injuries typically involve compression or damage to the cord which is significant but not complete. Some neurological signals continue to pass from the brain to the end of the spine. With a complete injury, all sensation and movement are lost below the site of injury. By contrast, an incomplete injury holds out the promise that some recovery is possible with sufficient rehab. Contact Hoy Law to discuss how a personal injury claim can aid in your recovery after a devastating spinal cord injury.

Possible Recovery

Each incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) is different. Some people experience only minimal impairment, possibly on one side of their bodies. Meanwhile, other accident victims struggle with significant disability, even though they are not completely paralyzed.

The recovery you can achieve will depend on your baseline after the accident. It is unrealistic for someone with significant impairments to “return to normal.” But many people can improve:

• Strength and movement. Someone who couldn’t grasp a jar or walk could strengthen their muscles with physical therapy. After enough effort, some spinal injury victims can walk again with crutches or leg braces. They might have sufficient arm strength to navigate a wheelchair on their own.
• Improved bladder and bowel control. An accident victim can regain continence following an injury.
• Mental health. SCIs impact a person’s mental health. Many people sink into depression, or they struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder. Behavioral and cognitive therapy can help victims gain control of their lives. Medication can also help with depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
• Many spinal cord injury victims learn how to do daily tasks, like cooking or bathing, which allow them to maintain independence.

Some factors which determine recovery include your age and health at the time of the accident, as well as your level of impairment after the accident.

Schedule a Meeting with a Sioux Falls Spinal Cord Injury Lawyer

Hoy Law believes that our friends and neighbors deserve skilled legal representation after an accident. There are few injuries as consequential as those involving the spinal cord. The path ahead is grueling, and some people will never regain their independence fully. A settlement can help defray some of the costs and force a negligent defendant to shoulder the costs of the accident. Contact us at Hoy Law to schedule a free consultation with a Sioux Falls spinal cord injury lawyer. We can provide more insight into how a settlement can help.

Source:

christopherreeve.org/todays-care/living-with-paralysis/newly-paralyzed/how-is-an-sci-defined-and-what-is-a-complete-vs-incomplete-injury/