Will I walk after a spinal cord injury?

On Behalf of | Dec 10, 2020 | personal injury |

Many who suffer spinal cord injuries in motor vehicle collisions, falls or other kinds of accidents spend the rest of their lives requiring the care and attention of others. This is because a spinal cord injury often results in partial or total paralysis. For some in North Carolina, however, recovering the ability to walk again is possible, but it takes time and strenuous effort.

Of course, regaining the ability to walk following a spinal cord injury depends on many factors, including the location of the injury and the severity of the damage. Nevertheless, even those with injuries to the upper spine resulting in full paralysis may undergo intense physical therapy with the goal of regaining some arm strength and mobility, especially if the spinal cord is not completely severed. Some steps accident victims may take include the following:

  • Months or years of consistent, aggressive physical therapy
  • Locomotor training to help their bodies relearn how to balance, retrain their muscles to move and strengthen their limbs to support their weight
  • Electric stimulation, which involves sending currents of electricity to the area of injury in imitation of brain signals prompting the muscle to move
  • Experimental treatments such as stem cell implantation

Physical therapists and other medical professionals agree that a positive outlook is key to making any progress after a spinal cord injury. However, this may be a challenge, especially in the face of the cost of such treatments. It may be critical for someone in North Carolina who has suffered a spinal cord injury through no fault of their own to explore every option for pursuing the compensation they need to obtain the highest quality care.