32 year old Steven was out riding his motorcycle, when he was struck by a vehicle and ejected off his bike, causing him to sustain serious spinal cord injury to his body including a broken back. Steven’s life changed that day. He remembers it as being the first day, for the rest of his life, that he would never walk again. CAPRARA BARRISTERS assembled a team of medical and rehabilitation experts to help Steven on his road to recovery and ensure that he received all the services, and financial support to help him get his dignity back.
Steven’s Story
32 year old Steven was out riding his motorcycle, when he was struck by a vehicle and ejected off his bike, causing him to sustain serious injuries to his body including a broken back. Steven’s life changed that day. He remembers it as being the first day, for the rest of his life, that he would never walk again. CAPRARA BARRISTERS assembled a team of medical and rehabilitation experts to help Steven on his road to recovery and ensure that he received all the services, and financial support to help him get his dignity back.
According to the Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario there are 600 new spinal cord injuries every year in Ontario (more than one a day) and current estimates indicate that there are approximately 33,140 Ontarians living with spinal cord injury.
The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that runs through the vertebrae (backbones) in your spine. This nerve bundle starts at the base of your brain and ending at your buttocks. The spinal cord is the main pathway for information between the brain and rest of your body. For example, walking, taking a step, or wigging a finger. The message is normally sent through the spinal cord to these body parts, in the form of nerve impulses. Stub a toe or touch something hot, and those pain or pressure signals speed back up to your brain faster than you can say “ouch!”
A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone at any time and can be devastating and difficult to cope with for both the victim and those around them . Although, in the past 20 years, there has been some major breakthroughs in medical research, the effects of a spinal cord injury are essentially irreversible.
Unfortunately, the majority of spinal cord injuries cause permanent disability or total immobility and loss of sensation below the injury to the vertebrae, otherwise known as paralysis. The site of your injury will determine what parts of your body are paralyzed. The higher the injury, the more body parts that are affected. For instance, a spinal cord injury in the upper, or cervical, region of your spine will affect your arms as well as your trunk, legs and pelvic area (including bowel and bladder control). Someone with this level of injury is considered to be quadriplegic. Loss of movement in the lower extremities, thoracic or lumbar region, won’t affect your arms. Someone with an injury in either of these regions is considered to be a paraplegic.
The most common causes of Spinal Cord Injury include:
| Falls | 43% |
| Automobile Accidents | 42% |
| Violence, Sports and Other | 15% |
The two areas of the spinal cord most commonly injured are the cervical spine referred to as the neck area (C1-C7) and the lumbar spine referred to as the low back area (L1-L5). (The notation C1, C7, L1, L5 refers to the location of a specific vertebra (spinal bone) in either the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar region of the spine.) Emergency medical support is crucial to keeping the long-term effects of neck trauma at a minimum. As a result, a Spinal Cord Injury is usually treated immediately at the scene of the accident.
Some obvious symptoms that an accident victim may be suffering from Spinal Cord Injury at the scene of the accident include:
- Sudden loss of consciousness;
- Ruthless back pain or pressure buildup in back, head, or neck;
- Severe weakness, clumsiness, or loss of movement in any body part;
- No feeling or tingling sensation in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes;
- Loss of bladder and/or bowel control;
- Inability to establish equilibrium;
- Difficulty breathing; and,
- Strangely positioned torso or neck.
Spinal cord injury is devastating and very traumatic for someone to deal with. However, people can make a positive adjustment to life with a spinal cord injury given the right support, healthcare involvement and rehabilitation efforts. The amount of time to achieve independence depends on the person and can take up to 2-3 years.
Devices, gadgets and amazing technology of all descriptions now mean a better quality of life for someone with a spinal cord injury. These items can be found at home health care outlets, hardware stores, and through disability organizations. Examples of products that could increase your independence include:
Environmental Controls
Turn on a corner lamp from your bed, or open a door automatically without having to fumble with the handle.
Adapted Computer Parts
A trackball may be easier to use than a standard mouse. Adapted switches may be easier to manage than keyboard functions.
Special Software
Use an on-screen computer keyboard to type, or try out voice recognition technology to control computer functions.
Assistive Devices
Grab bars, transfer benches and mobility aids in your home will help you get on with your day-to-day living. Wheelchair accessories like lap boards and drink holders will keep you more independent when you’re out and about.
Household Gadgets
Jar openers, book holders, zipper pulls and washcloth mitts.
In addition, there are trained personal attendants, live-in caregivers or personal support workers that can assist a person with a spinal cord injury with independence. The job of these individuals is to act as your arms and legs, and helping you with routine tasks of daily living. They assist with washing, dressing, and shaving, transferring or preparing meals. An attendant can enable you to participate in the community, or even hold down a job.
Injuries can occur in seconds and the effects can last a life time. Having the right medical, rehabilitation and legal team will help reduce anxiety and smooth the road to recovery. The trauma lawyers at CAPRARA BARRISTERS take numerous lawsuits to trial involving spinal cord injuries and other personal injury cases. We can help organize many services required for you to live more independently. If you would like to learn more, feel free to call us and speak to a member of our trauma trial lawyers.
Joseph G. Caprara