Financial Distress After Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries often result in permanent total disability, causing even more financial distress for the injured employee.

Whenever the spinal cord is severed, the injured employee may become paralyzed and experience permanent total disability depending on the severity of the injury and the extent of damage to the spinal cord. Employees suffering from severe spinal cord injuries while at work are advised to seek the assistance of an experienced Kansas City Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer who can facilitate the release of compensation the employee is entitled to receive.

Essential Functions of the Spine

The spine is an intricate and distinctive part of the body. It is composed of ligaments, joints, tendons, living bone, muscles, nerve roots, vascular system, cartilaginous components, and the spinal cord. The spine has a number of important functions. It facilitates the distribution of weight in the body. It also facilitates certain body movements, like stretching, rotating, bending, and leaning. The spine is the main support of the body and provides protection to the major body organs, nerves, and the spinal cord. These are just some of the essential functions of the spine.

Essential Functions of the Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a thin, elongated tubular group of nervous tissue and support cells. It connects the medulla oblongata of the brain to the area along the first and second lumbar vertebrae. However, it does not run along the entire length of the vertebral column. The main function of the spinal cord is to send neural signals from the brain to the other parts of the body and vice versa. The three other functions of the spinal cord are as follows:

• The spinal cord enables the coordination of particular reflexes in the body.
• The spinal cord enables the transmission of sensory information within the body.
• The spinal cord enables the transmission of motor information within the body.

When the Spinal Cord Is Severed

The spinal cord is severed whenever the nerve cell network in the spine is broken. This break may result in total or partial paralysis of body parts below the area where the spinal cord was damaged. However, this is determined by the severity of the injury and the level of damage to the spinal cord. When the spinal cord is completely cut off in one location, the area associated with the spinal cord segment becomes totally paralyzed. But, if the spinal cord is not totally cut off, the injured person may retain some sensation and movement in the area where it was severed. There are a number of indicators pointing to a severed spinal cord. These indicators include pain, incontinence, and paralysis.