Spinal injuries can be devastating, and recovery can be long and difficult. It’s not just the injury itself that can be difficult to overcome—there are a variety of complications associated with spinal injuries that can make your recovery particularly brutal.
Here are just a few examples of some of these complications:
- Loss of bladder and bowel control: People who experience spinal injuries may experience a loss of bladder and/or bowel control. The spine sends messages from the brain to the bladder and the bowels to control urination and bowel movements. When that connection is damaged, you may find it difficult to maintain control. In addition to incontinence and self-soiling, this can also result in urinary tract infections, kidney infections, or kidney/bladder stones.
- Respiratory problems: Spinal injuries can make it more difficult to breathe and cough, especially if muscles in the chest and abdomen are affected by the injury. You could be at increased risk for pneumonia and other lung issues.
- Muscle tone: People who sustain spinal cord injuries often experience uncontrolled tightening or motion in the muscles, or muscles that become soft, limp and lacking in muscle tone.
- Circulatory problems: Spinal cord injuries can cause circulatory problems that can include low blood pressure, swelling in the extremities, blood clots or rises in blood pressure.
- Sexual health: Your sexual health and function ca be affected by spinal cord injuries.
- Pain: Some people who suffer spinal injuries may experience pain from an overuse of certain muscle groups, especially if compensating for the spinal injury.
- Depression: It is common for people who suffer spinal injuries to experience depression as a response to having to cope with all the changes such an injury can bring.
If you have suffered a spinal injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact a reliable Bradenton, FL personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh to learn more about filing a lawsuit.