Among the different types of injuries that a Connecticut driver could face due to a crash, spinal injuries are among the most severe. The term spinal injury is an umbrella that covers a wide array of issues that vary in severity, heal time, and how much they will affect the overall life of the patient in question. Paralysis in particular is a big concern.
Medline Plus describes a few different types of paralysis. Two common terms include complete and partial paralysis, which refers to the difference in severity of the paralysis. As the names suggest, complete paralysis involves the total inability to move muscles in whatever the affected area of the body is. Partial paralysis, on the other hand, means that the sufferer still has some range of motion even if it may be limited.
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation also discusses incomplete and complete injury, mentioning that the location of a person’s spinal injury will impact what areas of their body are affected. In some cases, a person may be paralyzed from the waist down, unable to move their legs. In others, their entire body can be affected. They may be unable to move their legs, arms, or trunk. The latter occurs with cervical level injuries and can also impact diaphragm, shoulders, neck, and the back of the head.
Some spinal injuries can be treated with surgery, external stabilization such as braces, physical therapy, and other tools. Unfortunately, other injuries are not as easily treatable, and paralysis can be a lifelong issue that victims must face.
