The human body is amazing, but certain parts of it are quite fragile. One of the more serious types of injuries involves the spinal column. Each year, about 17,000 people will deal with the aftermath of a spinal column injury. If you’re living with an injured spine in Massachusetts, it’s understandable to have questions. Here’s more information about spinal cord injuries and the road to recovery while dealing with them.
What causes spinal column injuries?
While many situations can damage the spine, car accidents remain the leading cause of spinal column injuries among younger adults. As people get older, damage to the spinal column from falling is the leading cause of this type of injury. Other common causes of spinal cord injuries are acts of violence and sports-related injuries.
The long-term damage that most spinal cord injuries cause
Dealing with damage to the spinal cord means recovering from a serious personal injury. Depending on the severity of your injury, a medical professional might have you undergo surgery. However, there’s no guarantee that one or several surgeries will resolve your spine-related issues.
Many people who suffer injuries to their spinal cords will require long-term care. Regarding long-term care, most people recovering from spinal column injuries require extensive rehabilitation. Properly rehabbing an injury often includes taking part in occupational and physical therapy. You might also need counseling since spinal injuries can sometimes affect your mental health.
Fortunately, in most cases, you can receive the care you need out of your home. Typically, family members or trained medical professionals provide this type of care.
In some cases, spinal column injuries can get resolved with time or after surgery. However, many people who suffer from these injuries require some form of long-term care.
