Spinal injuries can devastate people’s lives. That’s true not just for those who suffer the injury, but for their families as well. They may they be facing a very different relationship – perhaps one where they need to spend a lot of time caring for their loved one and helping them do everyday tasks. They may lose all or a significant part of the family income if that person was the main or only breadwinner.
Naturally one of the first questions people may have when they or a loved one suffers a spinal injury is whether they will recover. Every spinal injury is different, but here are some things to know.
There is no “cure”
For all the huge medical advances made over the years, doctors still cannot “cure” a spinal injury. It will never be just like before or as good as new. What doctors and other medical professionals may be able to do is limit the damage caused and help the person find new ways to cope with the changes to their body.
Prompt medical attention is crucial
If someone is injured in a workplace accident, they may initially have damage to the spine that is relatively minor. But it might only take one wrong movement to turn it into something major. Prompt medical attention can help catch the danger signs via scans and other methods and intervene to protect the person from further damage.
Rehabilitation can make a difference
Therapists can work with a person to try to help them maintain the movement they still have and adapt to find ways around the body movement they no longer have. Without this, the person’s mobility may worsen.
Your employer’s worker’s compensation insurer should cover the costs of this care and rehabilitation for a work-related spinal injury. However, it may not be as forthcoming as it could be. You may need legal guidance to understand what you are entitled to and to work to get it.