Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries are more likely than other types of serious injuries to cause permanent, lifelong impairments of body functions, according to information from the National Injury Prevention Foundation. Only 0.9 percent of those who suffer a spinal cord injury achieve a full recovery; even five years after a spinal cord injury, up to 88 percent of survivors still struggle to complete basic daily tasks like dressing, cooking, and bathing. Because spinal cord injuries are still so difficult to treat, prevention is most people’s best chance of avoiding this life-altering condition.

Simple steps that can help you or your loved ones avoid a spinal cord injury include:

• Buckle up. Wearing your seat belt can help protect your spine in case of a New Hampshire automobile crash. Children should be secured in safety seats appropriate for their age, height, and weight.
• Wear proper safety gear. When playing any sport, choose proper safety gear that fits correctly. Helmets, pads, and other safety equipment can help protect your spine - and other body parts - from injury.
• Before diving into water, check the depth. If the water is nine feet deep or less, never enter it head first. Check for “No Diving” signs or warnings and always follow them.
• Practice gun safety. Many spinal cord injuries, especially to children and teens, are caused by gunshots. Keep your guns unloaded and locked in a safe place your children cannot access. Teach children and teens gun safety, and discuss with them the appropriate and inappropriate ways to use guns.

Spinal cord injuries change not only the lives of those who suffer them, but the lives of those they love as well. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, the experienced New Hampshire spinal cord injury attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. Call us today at (603) 624-3700 or 1(888) 511-1010 for a free and confidential telephone consultation.

Spinal cord injuries can be directly caused by trauma damaging the spinal cord, or they can be caused by secondary damage after the bones of the spinal column are injured by direct trauma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC.

The human spinal column is made of 31 separate bones, called vertebrae. Each vertebra is attached to the one beside it and can move in relationship to the other bones in the spine. Inside the bony column created by the vertebrae runs the spinal cord, a bundle of nerve fibers that transmits signals from the brain to every part of the body.

Damage to the spinal cord can occur at any point between the base of the skull, where the spinal cord enters the brain, to the end of the spinal cord at the lower back. New Hampshire spinal cord injuries can range from mild to severe. Severe spinal cord damage can cause paralysis of any body part or combination of body parts, including internal organs like the digestive system. Less severe damage may still leave an injured person with difficulties performing basic movements or with chronic, debilitating pain.

The CDC estimates that 46 percent of spinal cord injuries occur during motor vehicle accidents. Falling accounts for another 22 percent of spinal cord injuries, and intentional violence adds another 16 percent. The remaining 12 percent mostly occur during sporting events.

Spinal cord injury can radically change a person’s health and path in life. If you or someone you love has suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident, the experienced New Hampshire injury lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. may be able to help. To learn more, call us today for a free and confidential phone consultation. Our free injury helpline is 1-888-511-1010.

Researchers who study the uses of stem cells to treat and cure certain conditions may soon begin limited testing on patients with spinal cord injuries, according to a recent article in The Washington Post.

Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord, or the bundle of nerves responsible for communications between the body and the brain, becomes bruised, lacerated, or severed. Spinal cord injuries are more likely to occur during car crashes, workplace injuries, falls, and other types of accidents. Patients who suffer a spinal cord injury may live with lifelong medical consequences, including loss of motor ability, the ability to control or regulate bodily functions, and paralysis.

Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have announced they may be able to start testing the use of stem cells to help repair human spinal cord injuries. The plans for testing are currently tentative. No date has been set, and researchers have not yet agreed on what type of testing they should begin with or how the tests should be carried out.

Nevertheless, the possibility of testing this new medical treatment for spinal cord injuries has caused intense debate in the medical community, as well as among patients and government regulators. One major concern voiced by the Food and Drug Administration is whether transplanted stem cells will continue to grow normally or will result in tumors. The FDA has asked some stem cell researchers for additional testing on tumor risks before moving on to patient trials.

Spinal cord injury patients and their families are all too familiar with the many life-altering changes this type of injury causes, especially when it is the result of an accident caused by another person’s negligence. At Tenn and Tenn, P.A., our New Hampshire spinal cord injury lawyers have the resources and experience to protect your legal rights after an accident, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve after a spinal cord injury. Please call 1-888-511-1010 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.