Spinal Injuries
Learn More About Spinal Injuries from Our Experienced Team
Spinal injuries have the potential to change someone’s life. These severe injuries can cause disability and reduce the ability to remain independent. Unfortunately, these types of injuries are very common. Around 12,000 people experience these life-changing injuries each year. If you fear that you or a loved one has suffered such an injury, please reach out to Exceptional Emergency Center. Our offices are located throughout Texas and are staffed with highly-trained doctors and nurses. We strive to provide top-quality care, especially in such traumatic situations. When you’re dealing with a serious injury, you want an emergency services provider you can rely on. Feel free to ask us your questions about spinal injuries.
What Are the Different Types of Spinal Injuries?
Not all spinal cord injuries are the same. The spine is a large part of the body and can experience damage in a variety of ways. The two main types of injury are complete and incomplete. In complete spinal cord injuries, the patient suffers permanent damage and may come away paralyzed. Incomplete spinal injuries consist of partial injuries to the spinal cord. Patients’ ability to move and feel depends on where the injury occurred and the extent of the damage. Specific forms of spinal injuries include:
· Cervical Spine Injuries: This type of spinal injury affects the head and neck. These injuries often result in becoming paralyzed below the shoulders.
· Lumbar Spine Fracture: The hips and legs feel the effects of this condition. In some cases, patients have difficulty walking and lose control of their bladder.
· Thoracic Spinal Cord Injuries: In this type of spinal injury, the upper chest, mid-back, and abdominal muscles are affected.
· Sacral Spinal Cord Injuries: The sacral spine is located above the tailbone, and injuries to this area result in damage to the hips, pelvic area, buttocks, and thighs.
How Spinal Cord Damage Occurs
Any number of reasons can cause spinal fractures. Some of these aren’t easy to avoid. Many patients we see at Exceptional Emergency Center are the victims of violent crime or car accidents. Other patients visit us after sports injuries or falls. In fact, falls account for about 31% of all spinal cord damage. Disease is also a common culprit of spinal nerve damage and spinal fractures. Conditions such as cancer, arthritis, and osteoporosis put you at increased risk, as does the use of alcohol. When you understand how spinal cord injuries happen, you can take steps to avoid damage.
Identifying the Signs of Spinal Cord Damage
How do you know if you have a spinal cord injury? Severe, traumatic injuries will likely be obvious, but it’s easier to miss the symptoms of a minor spinal cord injury. Mild spinal fractures might come with difficulty breathing, coughing, muscle spasms, or pain in the affected region. You may also experience some loss of movement and feeling throughout the body. On the other hand, it’s hard to miss emergency symptoms. If you experience any of the following warning signs, visit Exceptional Emergency Center immediately:
- Extreme pain or pressure in your back
- Numbness
- Trouble balancing
- Weakness or inability to move part of your body
- Loss of bladder control
- Twisted neck or back
Premier Spinal Cord Injury Treatment
Spinal cord injury treatment is a long process. The team at Exceptional Emergency Center will choose a treatment plan catered to you, and you’ll likely need to visit other healthcare professionals during your recovery. Spinal nerve damage often requires extensive rehabilitation. This could include appointments with a physical therapist to restore your ability to walk, or visits to the occupational therapist. Other patients need extra assistance from a psychologist to come to terms with their injuries. Yet, some victims of spinal cord injuries need help from dieticians and nutrition specialists to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whatever you need to recover from a spinal cord injury, Exceptional Emergency Center is here for you.
Visit Exceptional Emergency Center for Spinal Cord Injury
No one wants to think about the fallout of spinal cord lesions or nerve damage. Luckily, Exceptional Emergency Center is here to take care of you when disaster strikes. Our team is well-versed in emergency services and providing the highest quality care in Texas. Our offices in Fort Worth, Livingston, Brownsville, Sachse, Harlingen, Port Arthur, Beaumont, Amarillo, Orange, and Lubbock are all staffed with top medical professionals waiting to help you. We’ve built a reputation for being a healthcare center you can rely on. Contact us today to learn more about spinal injury treatment.
