Akron Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

In this country, each year over 10,000 people suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI is any spinal cord damage resulting in reduction of mobility or function. SCI can be the result of sudden trauma or degenerative disease. Loss of function may be temporary or permanent and can include losses in the areas of: sensation, movement (paralysis), or bowel and bladder control. The primary cause of SCI is auto accidents; and trauma, such as falls or injuries during sports may also cause SCIs.

SCI may be complete or incomplete. A complete injury means the victim loses all sensation and/or voluntary motor movement on both sides of the body, below the level of the injury. If some feeling or movement remains, the injury is considered incomplete.

Usually, SCI are categorized in reference to the spinal section affected. Injuries to the 5th cervical (neck) vertebrae, the 3rd thoracic (upper back) and 2nd lumbar (lower back) would be called C-5, T-3, and L-2, respectively.

Generally speaking, higher injuries have the potential to cause more loss of sensation and movement. This is because it is only body parts below the location of the injury that can be affected (the injury, in effect, breaks the link between those parts of the body and the brain). While neck injuries may lead to paralysis of all limbs (quadriplegia), injuries to the thoracic spine may cause paralysis to the lower limbs only (paraplegia). Taken together, the severity (complete/incomplete) and location of the specific injury determine the amount of function/dysfunction. Other bodily functions, such as blood pressure, body temperature, and pain levels, may also be affected by SCI.

Initially, SCI usually causes a swelling of the spinal cord, which temporarily affects the whole body. Once the swelling subsides, perhaps months or even years after the injury, in many cases the patient regains function, though it is rare for all functioning to return. There is currently no cure for SCI, though stem cell research may be useful one day in this area. Present treatment consists of setting/stabilizing any broken vertebrae, preventing movement in the injured area, and reducing swelling.

If you or a loved one is in need of legal assistance, call Kisling, Nestico & Redick, LLC at 1-330-869-9007 or toll free 1-800 HURT NOW (1-800-487-8669) or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary recovery of funds. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. Please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.