Modern technology has come so far in the last few years that doctors can now diagnose your paralysis almost immediately. New procedures and tools are used to get fast and accurate results. Some of the tools used when diagnosing a spinal cord injury are:

The majority of the time these diagnostic methods produce detailed results that injured persons need so they can know how and why their paralysis was diagnosed as such.

Our spinal cord injury lawyers in San Diego know that when you think you might be paralyzed, you want answers right away so that you and your doctor can chart the proper course for treating your paralysis.

Paralysis, Body And Time

Within the category of paralysis, there are several different ways of defining the exact condition of an injured person's spinal cord injury. Depending on the type of spinal cord injury and the level of paralysis, there are two categories that you could find yourself in if you are paralyzed:

Complete Paralysis usually refers to people who are paralyzed for life from their spinal cord injury down to their feet. This condition can apply if you are quadriplegic or paraplegic.

Incomplete Paralysisusually this refers to people who are paralyzed for only part of their lives from their spinal cord injury downward.

To break the population of America that suffers from some form of paralysis, the paralyzed community is categorized into four different types of paralysis or disabilities as a result of a spinal cord injury:

Quadriplegic, Incomplete: 31.2% of Americans With Paralysis

Paraplegic, Complete: 28.2% of Americans With Paralysis

Paraplegic, Incomplete: 23.1% of Americans With Paralysis

Quadriplegic, Complete: 17.5% of Americans With Paralysis

In addition to that, the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) can classify your spinal cord injuries according to impairment, using a ranking of A-E.

The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scale of Paralysis

A = Complete: No motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5B = Incomplete: Sensory preserved, but no motor function below the neurological level and includes sacral segments S4-S5C = Incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurological level and more than half of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade less than 3D = Incomplete: Motor function is once again sustained below the neurological level with a least 50% of key muscles below the neurological level having a muscle grade that is higher than level 3E = Normal: Motor and sensory functioning is working as it should; no abnormalities there are a few rare cases of people who are quadriplegic for a short period of their lives and over time regain the use of their limbs.

On the other hand, there are numerous instances of people who are paraplegic, but never regain the use of their legs. Really, it all comes down to a case-by-case basis.

Diagnosing Your Paralysis

We are not all doctors, but it is still important to understand what goes on inside each of our bodies. Once we know what is happening beneath the skin we can get a clearer picture of how that affects the way we feel after a spinal cord injury.

The following diagram and nerves mentioned paint a picture of where and how paralysis occurs in the human spinal column. Injuries that damage specific nerves at key points on the spinal cord will affect your body in different ways.

Below are specific nerves on the spinal cord and the type of paralysis that occurs when damage is done to that nerve on its own.

Tetraplegia: Like most paralysis, this condition can occur by way of damage to different vertebrae and nerves, specifically happening in the cervical region of the spinal column.C1-C4 Tetraplegia:

  • C1-C2 may mean loss of functional sensory nerves
  • C3 may have impaired breathing; can shrug shoulders, move neck
  • C4 may breathe easy but still require assistance for personal care

C5 Tetraplegia:

  • C5 have functional deltoid and bicep muscles; minimal rotation and use of elbows, wrists, shoulders

C6 Tetraplegia:

  • C6 have most shoulder, elbow (bending only), and active writing motions

C7-C8 Tetraplegia:

  • C7 have functional triceps, can bend and straighten elbows, as well as enhanced finger movements
  • C8 has a flexor digitorum profundus function, meaning all arm movements are intact; some weakness in the hands

Most injured persons with neurologically complete legions above the C3 nerve on the cervical vertebrae usually die before receiving treatment for their personal injuries.

It might seem like just a cluster of a few small bones, but the effect that they have on your body is tremendous, especially during a spinal cord injury.

Again, think in terms of your spinal cord acting as a telephone pole and your brain is transmitting signals through it. If the top bones that connect the head and the back are broken, then all of the signals are lost.

But it does not have to be just the bones found in the cervical region; all of the vertebrae and nerves on the spinal column are essential for helping your body regulate itself.

You can probably see for yourself now just how fragile and important your spinal cord is and why, when injured, it is so imperative that you are properly diagnosed after experiencing a spinal cord injury.

Call Us Now To Speak With One Of Our Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers

Since 1992, the spinal cord injury lawyers at the Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers, LLP. in San Diego have been assisting injured persons just like you to recover the maximum financial compensation for their paralysis and spinal cord injuries.

Michael Pines, our firm's founder, is a former insurance company lawyer, so he knows how the insurance companies work.

Insurance companies may not pay a fair settlement if you do not want them to take advantage of you, then it would benefit you to hire an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer from our San Diego law firm.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident and suffered a spinal cord injury or paralysis we urge you to contact our bilingual offices as soon as possible following the accident at (858) 551-2090 or please click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced spinal cord injury attorneys.

We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you owe us nothing until we recover money on your behalf.