Spinal Cord Injuries

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Recovering from Spinal Cord Injuries Through Rehabilitation

Every spinal injury is serious. When an injury to the spinal cord happens, most victims feel its effects for the rest of their lives in varying degrees of severity. Some victims may never be able to walk, talk and experience normalcy ever again. With any type of spinal injury, it's a good idea to consult with a knowledgeable team of spinal cord injury attorneys who aren't just a legal resource, but can guide you through other issues you may endure as well.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation, while necessary, can also be quite costly. If the spinal injury is due to another party's negligence, the victim should look to them for the financial reserves they'll need to undergo therapy. Partial injuries, for instance, could cost up to $100,000 in the first year. Complete paralysis expenses in this same time frame could top $400,000.

After a spinal cord injury, almost everyone feels scared, fearful about the future and very confused. There is a thankfulness that they are still alive, mixed with still not quite believing that it all happened.

Rehabilitation is part physical, part mental. Activities to restore motor skills are combined with emotional counseling to prepare for the future. Usually, a physiatrist-a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and spinal cord rehabilitation-leads the team of occupational and recreational therapists, nurses and other specialists. Initially, the team focuses on helping the victim rebuild leg and arm strength because mobility is crucial. Some unfortunately will never be able to move around again without the help of a walker, braces or wheelchair, but others recover fully.

Occupational therapy's goal is to restore muscular and motor skills, as well as develop the ability to manage bowel and bladder movements. It also helps create coping strategies for episodes of spasticity, autonomic dysreflexia and neurogenic pain.

Vocational rehabilitation works to develop skills to help a person return to being a productive and active member of society, relating to the extent of their injury. Recreation therapy's aim is to help the victim enjoy recreational activities as much as possible because the activities do wonders for a person's mental state and they recover quicker.

How A Victim's Friends And Family Can Help

• Participate in the victim's rehabilitation. Ask the occupational therapist how you can help.
• Work with the victim to find a health care provider that specializes in spinal cord injuries.
• Never underestimate the value of emotional support in helping the victim cope with this life-changing condition.
• Take advantage of all of the resources out there to gain the best understanding of SCI.

If you have been in an accident that led to a spinal cord injury, please contact the personal injury lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today.

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
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