Paraplegia FAQ’s
A debilitating condition, paraplegia is the loss of movement and/or feeling in the lower extremities—also known as “leg paralysis.” This condition is extremely difficult to cope with, both physically and mentally, especially if the paraplegia was the result of an accident. If you or a loved has experienced an accident resulting in this type of catastrophic injury, we hope that this page can help answer some of your questions.
What is the cause of paraplegia?
Generally, paraplegia results from an injury to the spinal cord that damages or severs the nerve fibers found within the spinal cord. Primarily, such injuries result from car and motorcycle accidents, but can also result from slip and fall accidents as well as sporting injuries.
There are two degrees of paraplegia—complete and incomplete. Complete paraplegia is when a person loses both feeling and movement below his or her injury, while incomplete paraplegia is when a person maintains some movement or feeling below the injury.
What symptoms can a person expect to result from paraplegia?
Paraplegia can result in:
- Persisting pain
- Loss of sensation
- Paralysis
- Loss of bowel control
- Spasms
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of sexual function
What are the treatment options for those who have paraplegia?
Currently, there is no known way to fix either spinal cord damage or nerve damage. Because of this, paraplegia is a permanent condition. However, there are therapeutic and rehabilitative options for those who suffer from paraplegia. The purpose of such forms of treatment is to help regain as much independence as is possible.
To learn preventative measures that reduce the chances of paraplegia visit Mount Sinai Hospital’s website.
What should I do if my, or a loved one’s, paraplegia was the result of an accident due to the negligence of another party?
If you or a loved one was the victim of an accident resulting in paraplegia, it is important to retain an attorney as soon as possible. Retaining an attorney will help give you time to focus on your recovery and help you return your life to normal.
BD&J is experienced in working with paraplegia accident victims. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident that resulted in paraplegia, we will do all we can to get you the justice and compensation that you deserve.
If you have any questions, please call us at (855) 906-3699. If you’d prefer, you can also fill out our online consultation form.
