Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injuries in San Antonio
If you are unfamiliar with spinal cord injuries from a medical or legal standpoint, you might think that it would be easy to tell if you have suffered a catastrophic loss of sensory and motor function after a traumatic accident. However, this type of injury does not always have obvious effects, and sometimes serious trauma can take hours or even several days to produce significant symptoms.
Learning about the common symptoms of spinal cord injuries in San Antonio is essential if you are considering civil litigation over a recent accident where you may have suffered spinal cord damage. An skilled attorney from Felix Gonzalez can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost and future wages, physical and psychological suffering, and other losses connected to your injury.
Changes in Sensation or Control Over Extremities
In San Antonio, one of the most common signs of incomplete spinal cord injuries—meaning partial tearing or bruising of the spinal cord—is paresthesia, the tingling and pins-and-needles sensation in the fingers, toes, hands, and feet. Any loss of feeling or fine motor control in the extremities can be a sign of serious spinal cord damage.
Loss of Normal Function in the Groin
Where there is an injury to the lumbar or sacral sections of the spinal cord close to the tailbone, there may be a loss of control over the bladder and bowels without a total loss of function in the legs and hips. Likewise, after a San Antonio accident, loss of sexual function or sensitivity can sometimes be a sign of spinal cord damage if accompanied by other listed symptoms.
Pain in the Head, Back, or Limbs
Spinal cord trauma is often associated with a total loss of sensation in affected areas of the body. However, incomplete spinal cord injuries may instead cause significant physical pain in these areas. Muscle weakness can also be an indicator of a comparatively minor but serious spinal cord injury after a San Antonio accident, as is muscle spasticity—muscles flexing uncontrollably.
Autonomic Problems
Some incomplete spinal cord injuries higher up the spine and closer to the neck can interrupt the normal functioning of internal organs. Organs rely on autonomic signals sent from the brain that make them perform certain functions without conscious thought. Depending on an individual’s injury, low heart rate, low blood pressure, and low body temperature can all be correlated with spinal cord trauma.
Regardless of which symptoms of spinal cord trauma a person is experiencing, a knowledgeable San Antonio attorney can help them recover damages for their injuries.
Talk to a San Antonio Attorney After Seeking Treatment for Spinal Cord Damage Symptoms
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms of spinal cord injuries in San Antonio after a serious accident, your priority should be seeking medical attention. However, you should also consider seeking civil restitution from the person—or people—at fault for your injuries.
A spinal cord injury lawyer from the Felix Gonzalez Law Firm can be an invaluable ally during every stage of your case, working tirelessly to obtain compensation for your physical and financial losses. Call today to learn more
