Whether suffered during a car accident, because you fell a significant distance, or in another way, spinal cord injuries can be serious. Here are a few ways to recognize a potentially serious spinal cord injury:

• Inability to move or difficulty moving is one sign of a spinal cord injury. This could be difficulty walking, moving your arms, or trouble using other body parts.
• Even if the person is able to move the body parts, extreme pain in the head, back, or neck are signs of a serious spinal cord injury, even if this pain starts several hours or even days after the crash or fall.
• If there is a numbness or tingling sensation in your hands, feet, fingers, or toes, you could have suffered a spinal cord injury.
• You may also suffer a loss of sensation and have difficulty feeling heat, cold, or even just touch.
• Breathing problems or inability to stop coughing are also signs of a spinal cord injury.
• Bladder control issues after a significant blow to the head or spine also points to a potentially serious spinal cord injury.
• Perhaps one of the most recognizable signs of spinal cord injury is a twisted or oddly positioned neck or back.

If you suspect you or someone else has suffered a spinal cord injury, do not move the person. Instead, call 911 right away, and wait for medical personnel to show up. Moving the person could cause more serious permanent damage. Even if the person does not feel extreme pain directly after the accident, it is best to have the person checked by a doctor right away, particularly if the person suffered a hard hit to the head, neck, or back. If you suffered a spinal cord injury due to someone else’s negligence, contact us. An injury lawyer will provide you with a free consultation.