Pain and Spinal Cord Injury

As a spinal injury attorney I am in regular contact with persons with spinal cord injury. These people have so much to cope with following the onset of their disability, that I often feel that it is not right that they should also have to cope with pain, often due to the negligence of another person.

Pain is difficult to quantify, measure, and identify, but is nevertheless a reality of our lives. As a start, it may be useful to know what pain is. It is a sensory experience, ranging from barely noticeable, to extremely unbearable. As pain worsens, it affects the psyche as well, introducing psychological trauma as well. For persons with a spinal cord injury, pain can be a debilitating experience.

Able-bodied people can reach for a painkiller, and have it out of the way in a few minutes. Patients with a spinal cord injury cannot. The nature and extent of the injury will determine the medication type, duration of medication, and even the possibility of remedial surgery.

Pain is the only way the body can bring attention to damage. It can be acute, or it can be chronic. It may arrive suddenly; it may only manifest itself over a period of time. SCI patients can experience pain in any part of the body, even those parts where there is no feeling.

In more than thirty years as a spinal injury attorney I have noticed, and this is supported by research, that the manner in which an individual was injured, affects their subsequent pain levels. In other words, in a situation with two SCI patients, one a gunshot victim, and the other a fall incident, the gunshot victim generally experiences more pain than the fall incident SCI patient. Pain levels also vary between individuals.

Specific treatment varies, and may range from steroidal compounds and morphiates, to anti-convulsants and anti depressants.

Rhizotomy, or cordotomy, is a surgical procedure that is occasionally used to alleviate symptoms of pain. The procedure is at best temporary, and may have negative affects in the long term. An alternative option to surgery is acupuncture, and this method is currently undergoing extensive testing and laboratory research. It is expected that the study be finalized in December of 2010.

Due to the fact that many spinal injury patients experience thoracic pain, it is always a good idea to look at, and modify, or alter the patients’ diet. A disabled person’s diet should consist of plenty of fresh drinking water, with grains and pulses, fruit, and vegetables. The diet should be low fat, and low-sugar. This diet will not only reduce pain, but has the added advantages of helping regulate the bowel, helping maintain weight, and finally, it is a sound regime for improved skin tone.

I may not be a doctor, but as an experienced spinal injury lawyer, I do know what a burden pain is. It is my pledge to do all I can to ensure that my client’s endure as little pain as possible, in order to make the best of their lives.

If you are enduring pain as a result of another’s carelessness, you may be entitled to money compensation.

Contact me via my contact form, or call me, Toll Free, on 888 446 1999, to arrange your first free consultation with me. I won’t charge you for any costs or fees if I am unable to secure money compensation for you.

The purpose of these web articles are not to make comment about an individual's personal choices, but are intended to educate you about the possible paths of outcome of various spinal injuries.

This website is provided as a public service regarding the topic of spinal injury and is not to be relied upon as medical or legal advice. The information supplied is of a general nature only, and is not intended to be relied upon. This information is not represented to be the most up to date or to cover your particular circumstances.

Before deciding to obtain care, treatment, or to determine a diagnosis, please consult with a licensed physician, and concerning your legal rights please consult with a lawyer.

Warning: Do not let any medical or legal concerns wait because of any information you have read on this website.

Do you want to learn about your legal rights?

Have you, or someone you know, had an accident resulting in a spine or spinal cord injury?

Call Mr. Leeds directly at (954) 683-0355, or contact Mr Leeds via email.
All inquiries will be promptly responded to.