Spinal cord injuries can be among the most expensive and debilitating injuries a person can endure. Tragically, it’s also one of the most common injuries in the United States. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, over 17,000 new spinal cord injury cases occur each year. Studies suggest that this number is not going to be dropping anytime soon. While most effects can be deduced, spinal cord injuries leave behind some surprising effects. Below are five surprising facts about spinal cord injuries:

Men Have More Spinal Cord Injuries

Statistics show that a staggering 82 percent of all people with spinal cord injuries are men. The reasons for this are not concrete, but the general estimation has been the kinds of situations men are in versus women. Men often take footing in more physical labor, sports, falls, and crashes. Their presence in these situations puts them at a greater risk of a spinal cord injury.

Complications Can Arise Later

In talking about a spinal cord injury, many believe that the end result is always limited to the disability that has occurred as a result of the accident. This is not always the case. Many are shocked to learn that a spinal cord injury could lead to a variety of different complications that arise later on. Bladder infections, bedsores, lung infections, muscle spasms, and sexual dysfunction can call develop and worsen following a spinal cord injury.

The Most Common Cause

Many believe that spinal cord injuries are the result of falls and sport injuries. While both of these are leading causes of injury, the number one cause lies in motor vehicle accidents. These accidents, even with seat belts and a variety of other precautions, often result in mild to severe spinal cord injuries.

Drop in Life Expectancy

Generally, life expectancy drops with a spinal cord injury. Often this drop in life expectancy is not caused directly by the spinal cord injury, but by after effects on other parts of the body. Infections, embolism, pneumonia and more could have a great impact on a person’s health and could result in an early death.

It May Be Impossible to Cough

An unexpected side effect of a spinal cord injury that has led to paraplegia or quadriplegia, is the inability to cough. This inability comes from abdominal and chest muscles affected by the injury. Spinal cord injuries often leave their victims with respiratory issues.

Spinal cord injuries can be devastating and could leave a person incapable of carrying out basic tasks on their own. A victim’s life changes forever and the costs related to treatment can be astronomical. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury, contact a personal injury attorney who could help. Contact The Paris Firm online or call (909) 325-6185 to schedule your initial consultation today.