Suffering an injury in an accident that results in paralysis can significantly impact your quality of life. By turning to a catastrophic injury lawyer in Atlanta, GA, you can get help.
Understanding paralysis and its symptoms
Paralysis refers to the inability to make voluntary muscle movements. It occurs when there’s a problem in the way your nervous system functions. Healthy nerves send signals to muscles, telling them to move. If nerves sustain damage of any kind, paralysis can occur. Traumatic accidents like car collisions and falls can cause nerve damage to your spinal cord, leading to this serious condition.
It’s important to understand that paralysis doesn’t always occur immediately after the accident. A spinal cord injury can get worse in the days after, so it’s essential to get medical help if you notice symptoms.
Some of the most common symptoms of serious spinal cord damage include:
- Tingling sensations
- Loss of sensation in your extremities
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Loss of movement
- Breathing problems
- Spasms and exaggerated reflexes
The severity of the paralysis can depend on the location of the damaged spinal nerve. For example, if you have damage to your cervical spine, you can develop paralysis from the chin down.