After a distracted driver struck you while navigating California’s streets, doctors diagnosed you with a spinal cord injury. What treatment options do you have?
To build your personal injury case, Mayo Clinic explains how health care professionals treat spinal cord injuries. Learn factors and costs that may affect how much you seek in damages.
Emergency procedures
When a patient requires urgent medical attention for an injured spinal cord, medical professionals use rigid carrying boards and neck collars to move the person to the proper medical facilities and prevent the patient from moving. Emergency actions help prevent unnecessary neck and head trauma.
Surgery
If bone fragments, fractured vertebrae, herniated discs or foreign objects press on the patient’s spine, a doctor may perform a medical procedure. The person may also require surgery to prevent a deformity or future discomfort.
Experimental procedures
To encourage nerve regeneration, control swelling and prevent cell death, healthcare professionals may reduce the injured person’s body temperature for 24 to 48 hours.
Medication
Spinal cord injury effects may respond to medication. Specifically, a physician may recommend prescriptions for muscle spasticity and pain control. A patient may also require medication for bladder and bowel control.
Advanced medical technology
A spinal cord injury may rob a person of her or his mobility and independence. Electric wheelchairs and similar models allow an individual to reach high spaces, navigate rough terrain and ascend stairs. Electronic aids help with day-to-day living through a computer or voice-activated remote. To relearn how to walk, a spinal cord patient may undergo robot gait training.
You may have multiple options for treating your spinal cord injury. Talking with your doctor could help you choose the most viable medical solution.