Frequently in auto accidents I see spinal cord injury, particularly in major impact cases. Spinal cord injury is very different from whiplash or broken backs or necks.
The spinal cord is surrounded by nerves, which are wrapped around the vertebrae of the spine.
The spine has a large portion of the nerves, which communicate, with other areas of the body, like wiring in a computer.
Neck injuries are sustained in the cervical or C part of the spine, while T or Thoracic level is in the middle of the spinal cord.
Spinal cord injuries vary greatly and can run up to hundreds of thousands of dollars to get proper medical care, depending on the severity of the injury.
According to recent estimates just under ½ of all spinal cord injury comes from car accidents. The types of disability an auto accident victim can have vary greatly depending on how severe the injury is with the most common types of spinal cord injuries being contusions (bruising) and compression (pressure on spinal cord).
Methylprednisolone (a steroid treatment) has been a universal treatment for spine injury for quite some time now. Generally, the medication is most effective when prescribed within 8 hours of the car wreck.
Studies such as CT scans and MRI films are necessary to diagnose and treat spinal cord injury.
For auto accident victims, just because you were discharged from the Emergency room with only x-rays taken does not mean you did not sustain a spinal cord injury.
If your symptoms grow worse or are other areas like your arms, legs, or hands are affected, seek out a neurologist or an orthopedic doctor as soon as you can.
Greg Baumgartner is an auto accident lawyer in Houston and the founder of the Baumgartner Law Firm, a Texas personal injury law firm helping seriously injured victims of car accidents in Houston. For a no obligation Houston personal injury consultation call the Baumgartner Law Firm.
