How spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis

Paralysis is a serious medical condition that prevents a person from moving their body or feeling sensations below the point of a spinal cord injury. When a North Carolina resident suffers a spinal cord injury their situation could follow any of several paths. They may experience a full recovery, or they may experience a partial recovery. Individuals with severe spinal cord injuries may be permanently paralyzed and disabled by their injuries.

The spinal cord runs through the spinal column, which is a set of bones called “vertebrae” that protects the nerves of the spinal cord. When a trauma or accident causes damage to the spinal cord, the nerves of the column may stop sending messages from the brain to the rest of the body. As a result, a person may lose feeling, movement and control of their body below the site of their spinal cord injury.

When a victim suffers an injury to the spinal cord in their neck, they may end up suffering from quadriplegia. Quadriplegia refers to the loss of movement and feeling in both arms and both legs. Victims whose injuries are lower may suffer paraplegia, which refers to the loss of feeling and motion in the legs.

Any form of paralysis may be disabling if it prevents a person from finding and holding down a job. It is important to understand just how serious spinal cord injuries can be. Anyone in North Carolina who suffers from this type of serious injury or disability may need to get more information about disability benefits.