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Because we’re born moving, we often take motion for granted as much as we do breathing. The fact that we can turn our head, lift our finger, scratch an itch on the back of our leg, or do a myriad of other things doesn’t create much of a stir in our day-to-day existence. It’s not until something happens and takes that thing that comes so naturally to us away that movement, and what causes its lack, becomes important. According to the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) affect an estimated 12,000 people a year in the U.S. As of 2007, the number of people living with SCI in this country ranged between 227,000 and 301,000 people. The average age of those affected is 39-years-old. This age is important because by this time, people have already been set in their ways for some time with regard to how they live their lives and move around in their world. Losing this in a split second during a traumatic SCI has devastating effect, both emotional and physical. It requires a complete reworking of the simple things, such as getting around, dressing, eating, and the fact that the victims are now dependent on someone else for basic care. Paralysis may often feel like a cruel trap to the victim, as well as their friends and family. Broken Signals The spinal cord and brain make up the central nervous system, which controls virtually every function in the body. The spinal cord is made up of nerve fibers that carry messages to and from the brain. The nerve fibers attach to the nerve roots that are between the vertebrae. These fibers then extend into all parts of the body. When there is a sudden traumatic injury that crushes, compresses, or fractures your vertebrae, the damage can cut the spinal cord. Nontraumatic SCI, such as disease, infection, arthritis, degeneration of the disks and more can have the same result as a traumatic injury. The damage to the cord affects the nerve fibers in the injured area, and keep the signals from moving from the brain to the area on the other side of the injury telling that body part to respond. The site of the SCI will determine the body function affected. While physical movement is the most obvious affliction, an injury in the cervical region may also affect breathing. Common Causes The most common causes of SCI in the U.S. include:
• Vehicle Accidents – Leading cause of SCI that account for nearly 50 of all injuries in this category every year
• Violence – Gunshots, knife wounds, and other acts of violence account for nearly 15 percent of SCI
• Falls – Around 22 percent of SCI are the result of falls, and most SCI after age 65 are caused by falls
• Sports/recreation injuries – Impact sports like football and rugby, as well as diving into shallow water account for eight percent of SCI
• Disease – Cancer, infection, and other illnesses Many victims of spinal cord injuries and their loved ones may have no idea how to make the adjustment into this way of living. If the victim was the main source of income for his or her family, the devastation can continue for years. For reasons such as this, those affected may want to speak to an attorney to decide their best course of action, especially if the injury was caused by another party’s negligence. If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury in the Jacksonville, Florida area, please contact the experienced spinal cord injury lawyers at Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ahston, P.A.
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