Did You Know September Is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month?

A spinal cord injury is a serious and sometimes life-threatening injury. An estimated 296,000 people living in the United States have a spinal cord injury. There are about 17,900 new spinal cord injury cases each year in the United States. To help raise awareness about spinal cord injuries, every September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. Read on as we discuss spinal cord injuries, including common causes and prevention tips.

Unfortunately, motor vehicle accidents are a top cause of spinal cord injuries. If you are injured in a car accident, contact an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will help to protect your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.

Anthem Injury Lawyers in Las Vegas has a dedicated team of lawyers and staff ready to help you win your personal injury case. Insurance companies are not motivated to pay you significant compensation. You need an experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney to fight for you, so you win the maximum compensation you are entitled to. Our personal injury lawyers offer over 25 years of experience winning compensation in personal injury cases. See how Anthem Injury Lawyers will put you in the best position to win your Las Vegas car accident case. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to schedule a free consultation.

What Is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month?

Since 2013, September has been designated as Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. The purpose of this month is to call attention to the following:

• The severity of spinal cord injuries
• The ongoing need for research to find a cure to spinal cord injuries

What Is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is an important part of the human body. It carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. An injury to this messenger can result in death and disability.

A spinal cord injury is an injury to the spinal cord. It results in temporary or permanent changes in the spinal cord’s normal motor, sensory, or autonomic function. After a spinal cord injury, all the nerves above the level of injury keep working normally. At the level of injury, messages are blocked from being transmitted from above that level to below the level of injury.

Complete and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

There are two types of spinal cord injuries, complete and incomplete.

A complete spinal cord injury causes permanent damage to the affected area of the spinal cord. Complete spinal cord injuries result in either:

• Paralysis of the legs and lower body (paraplegia) or
• Paralysis of all four limbs and the torso (quadriplegia)

An incomplete spinal cord injury refers to partial damage to the spinal cord. The ability to move and the amount of feeling depends on the area of the spine injured and the severity of the injury.

Any injury to the spine is a serious injury. If you have been involved in an accident, it is important that you seek medical help immediately. A medical professional will assess your injuries and check for symptoms of a spinal cord injury.

Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury

Did you know that symptoms of a spinal cord injury can vary widely? The symptoms depend upon the location and severity of the injury. It can take a while for some symptoms to appear as your body responds to the injury. That is why it is important to seek medical help immediately following an accident. Some common symptoms of a spinal cord injury include the following:

• Muscle weakness
• Loss of voluntary muscle movement in the chest, arms, or legs
• Breathing problems including difficult coughing
• Loss of feeling in the chest, arms, or legs. This can include a loss of the ability to feel heat, cold and touch.
• Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility
• Loss of bowel and bladder function
• Intense pain or stinging sensation

Have you suffered a spinal cord injury from an accident that was not your fault? You should contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced, dedicated personal injury attorneys and case managers. Don’t delay: gain the benefit of  providing us with the necessary time to pursue your spinal cord injury case to a positive resolution for you. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.

What Are Common Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries?

Every spinal cord injury is unique. However, many spinal cord injuries have common causes. Discussing these common causes during Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month helps with education and prevention. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of spinal cord injuries in the United States include the following.

Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Accidents

Auto and motorcycle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. These accidents account for almost half of new spinal cord injuries each year.

Falls

A spinal cord injury after age 65 is most often caused by a fall. Overall, falls cause about 31 percent of spinal cord injuries.

Acts of Violence

Over 13 percent of spinal cord injuries result from violent encounters, most commonly involving gunshot wounds.

Sports and Recreation Injuries

Athletic activities cause about 10 percent of spinal cord injuries. These activities can include impact sports, trampoline accidents, and diving accidents.

Alcohol

Alcohol use is a factor in about 1 out of every 4 spinal cord injuries.

Illness

Spinal cord injuries can also be caused by illness. This can include cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and inflammation of the spinal cord.

Tips to Prevent Spinal Cord Injuries

Not all injuries are preventable. However, you can take steps to help lessen your chances of an injury by doing the following:

• Drive responsibly and always wear a seat belt. Children should always ride in the back seat and wear an age- and weight-appropriate child safety seat.
• Ride with care and always wear a helmet.
• Check water depth. Never dive into shallow water or water where you don’t know the depth.
• Prevent falls with handrails and nonslip mats in the bathroom.
• Be cautious while playing sports. Wear appropriate safety gear and follow safety instructions from coaches.
• Drink responsibly. Never drink and drive. Never drink when engaging in recreational activities.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Someone Has a Back or Neck Injury?

If you witness an accident and suspect someone has a back or neck injury, what should you do? According to the Mayo Clinic, you should do the following:

• Do not move the injured person. Moving the person may result in permanent paralysis and other serious complications.
• Call 911 immediately.
• Keep the person still.
• Try to keep them calm.
• Try to keep the person from moving. You can place heavy towels on both sides of the neck or hold the head and neck to prevent them from moving. Wait for emergency care to arrive.
• Provide basic first aid. Try to stop any bleeding and make the person comfortable, without moving the head or neck.

A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at anytime. If you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Once you have gotten the necessary medical care, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers

The law firm of Anthem Injury Lawyers understands that even the most cautious individual can be injured in a car accident, or another accident caused by someone else. If someone has injured you, it’s important that you seek experienced legal representation. You can be reassured that our personal injury attorneys offer the knowledge and expertise you need to win maximum compensation for your injuries. Get in touch with our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys today, so we can begin pursuing significant compensation for you. If you cannot visit our Las Vegas area office, we can come to you to discuss your personal injury case.

Call Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.