The Aftermath of a Road Crash: 3 Ways How Your Life Can Change as a Result of a Spinal Cord Injury
Suffering from a spinal cord injury after a car accident can be a life-changing event. Within just a few minutes, things that you often take for granted, like walking, driving, and getting dressed are taken from you. Every year, according to the site SpinalCord.com, there are between 11,000 and 12,500 new cases of spinal cord injuries. Rebuilding your life after you’ve suffered a spinal cord injury is a long and arduous process with plenty of challenges along the way. Here are three ways that your life can change after you’ve suffered from a spinal cord injury.
You’ll Experience a Change in Your Physical Capabilities
One of the most severe symptoms of spinal cord injuries is partial or full paralysis and is the main symptom that people who have suffered this kind of injury fixate on. However, your movement won’t be the only thing that will be affected by a spinal cord injury. Some of the other physical symptoms that you might experience include:
- Problems controlling your bladder
- Tingling sensations in your limbs
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Difficulty breathing without help
- Skin problems like bedsores
The exact symptoms that you experience will depend on the nature and location of your injury.
You’ll Experience Mental Health Issues
The physical challenges that you face after a spinal cord injury can end up leading to depression and anxiety, and the changes that you experience on your journey to recovery can exacerbate these issues. For example, according to the AARP, anticonvulsants that are prescribed to treat neuropathic pain, can alter how your brain processes certain neurotransmitters, which can make your more vulnerable to certain mental illnesses. After a spinal cord injury, you need to seek medical and psychological support along with speaking to a car accident lawyer to ensure you get on the right path for healing physically, emotionally, and financially.
You’re More Vulnerable to Poor Health
Suffering from a spinal cord injury will increase your chances of developing many other health conditions that can lead to a decline in your overall health. Two of the significant issues that you might have to face are skin conditions and obesity. The number one reason for death following an injury to the spinal cord is respiratory infections that develop into pneumonia. However, many other symptoms can seriously complicate your life as well during your road to recovery. If you’ve suffered from a spinal cord injury as a result of a car or motorcycle accident, or fall, you need to be much more aware of your health and take your recovery and overall health seriously. If you experience any unusual symptoms during your recovery, you need to be sure to contact your doctor immediately so any new condition can be adequately treated.
There is no way you can plan for a spinal cord injury. However, knowing the ways your life can change after suffering from an injury to your spine can help you get on the right track of recovery.
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