Birmingham Spinal Cord Injuries Lawyers

The spinal cord consists of a bundle of nerves that run from the base of the brain down the back. The spinal cord forms a conduit, delivering messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Most of the spinal cord is surrounded by bones, known as vertebrae, which form the spine. If the spinal vertebrae are fractured or broken, the spinal cord itself can be compromised. The severity of the injury depends on the location of the fracture.

Spinal cord injuries include:

• Disk Herniation
• Spinal Cord Compression
• Paralysis
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia

Spinal cord injuries can be divided into two types of injuries – complete and incomplete.

A complete injury means there is no function below the level of the injury; no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected.

An incomplete injury means that there is some functioning below the primary level of the injury. A person with an incomplete injury may be able to move one limb more than another, may be able to feel parts of the body that cannot be moved, or may have more functioning on one side than the other.

Paraplegia

Injuries at the thoracic level and below result in paraplegia. At T-1 to T-8 there is most often control of the hands, but poor trunk control as the result of lack of abdominal muscle control. Lower T-injuries (T-9 to T-12) allow good trunk control and good abdominal muscle control. It affects feeling and movement in the lower part of the body. The extent of your loss will depend on the seriousness of the injury. The effect of a spinal cord injury will be different for each person.

Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia

Quadriplegia is the result of a spinal cord injury at the top of the spine, in the cervical disks of the neck. Injuries above the C-4 level may require a ventilator for the person to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and biceps control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally yield wrist control, but no hand function. Individuals with C-7 and T-1 injuries can straighten their arms, but still may have dexterity problems with the hand and fingers.

In addition to a loss of sensation or motor functioning, Spinal Cord Injury patients also experience problems with: dysfunction of the bowel and bladder, sexual functioning, chronic pain, inability to regulate blood pressure effectively, and in some cases, the ability to breathe.

People with spinal cord injuries require years and sometimes a life time of specialized medical care and skilled assistance with the tasks of daily living. The cost of providing this specialized medical care and assistance is extremely expensive; therefore, it is extremely important for spinal cord injury victims to speak with an experienced Alabama spinal cord injury lawyer.

Our Alabama personal injury attorneys are ready to provide the one on one attention you need and deserve.

For your free spinal cord injury consultation with an Alabama Spinal Cord Injury Attorney fill out our contact form or call us at 888-457-1872 (toll free).