Sadly spinal cord injuries are a common occurrence, affecting around 2000 people every year in the UK and many million worldwide, which often leads to permanent paralysis and one of the main causes of spinal cord injuries are trauma such as; automobile accidents, war injury and slip trips and falls.

With spinal cord injuries the exact effects vary depending on the type and level of injury that is sustained and they can be organised into two types; complete or incomplete injury. If you suffer a complete injury you will have no function below the neurological level, which is defined as the lowest level that has intact neurological function. If you have some level below which had no motor and sensory function then the injury is said to be complete; however thanks to recent evidence it has been suggested that less than 5% of people with complete spinal cord injury recover some movement, known as locomotive.

If you suffer an incomplete injury you still retain some sensation or movement below the level of the injury. Recent evidence suggests that over 95% of people with "incomplete" spinal cord injury recover some power of movement.

One confusion that often occurs when it comes to spinal cord injury is many people think if you brake your neck or back you will most likely become paralysed when in reality you are likely to make a full recover as long as there is no damage to the spinal cord. Spinal cord damage takes place when there is damage caused to the nerves that are situated within the spinal cord; these are known as upper motor neurons or UMN’s for short. The primary function of these UMN’s is to carry messages back and forth from the brain. Within these upper motor neurons there are sensory portions of the spinal cord. These sensory portions carry messages about sensation from the skin such as pain, temperature and touch.

Sustaining a spinal cord injury is highly serious and they are classed as medical emergencies. This is because immediate treatment can reduce long term effects associated with spinal cord injuries. This immediate treatment is combined with medicine and rehabilitation therapy to give you the best possible chance.

In most cases spinal cord injuries usually begin with a blow that results in a fracture or dislocation of your vertebrae, which are the bone disks that make up your spine. Most injuries that are sustained to your spinal cord won’t sever your spinal cord but instead they will cause damage when pieces of vertebrae tear into your cord tissue or press down on the nerve parts that carry signals. When a complete spinal cord injury occurs the cord can’t relay messages below the level of the injury. As a result of this you will become paralysed below the level of injury. In an incomplete injury you have some movement and sensation below the area of injury.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a spinal cord injury that was caused through no fault of your own then you could be entitled to put a claim in for compensation. To find out more about making a claim for compensation after a spinal cord injury that was caused through no fault of your own then contact a firm of legal advisors today who will be able to help you every step of the way.

Helen is the web master of Accident Consult, specialists in all aspects of Spinal Cord Injury Compensation.