People often fear spinal cord injuries because of the symptoms such injuries generate. Many people have a hard time contemplating life with limited mobility and reduced independence. Not only are spinal cord injuries functionally limiting, but they are very expensive as well.
For some people, just the first year of treatment after their injury could carry a seven-figure price tag. They may pay thousands of dollars per year for the rest of their lives for their medical care needs. There are a variety of different treatments necessitated by a spinal cord injury.
What types of care do those with trauma to their spinal cords typically require?
Surgical intervention
Surgery is sometimes necessary after the initial spinal cord injury. Particularly in scenarios involving an incomplete injury, an operation may be necessary to facilitate the best recovery possible. Surgical procedures can cost tens of thousands of dollars apiece, and some people may require more than one operation over the course of their recovery.
Physical and occupational therapy
A spinal cord injury inevitably affects an individual’s day-to-day life and their professional opportunities. They may need help developing new skills that allow them to live independently and return to work. They may also need to undergo physical therapy as a means of staving off muscular atrophy and other secondary consequences of a spinal cord injury.
Those care costs may be particularly high immediately after the injury but may also persist for the rest of the individual’s life. Regular physical therapy and massage may be necessary for the optimal wellness of those with spinal cord injuries.
Mental health support
Spinal cord injuries and other catastrophic medical challenges often cause mental health challenges. People may experience depression or might develop post-traumatic stress responses to certain scenarios, like riding in passenger vehicles.
Mental health counseling is often an important part of recovering from a traumatic incident and adjusting to life with medical challenges. Care costs for a spinal cord injury continue to accrue for the rest of an individual’s life. Many people realize that insurance isn’t enough to cover their costs after a car crash causes a spinal cord injury.
Pursuing compensation via a personal injury lawsuit is often necessary for those who have sustained catastrophic car crash injuries, such as spinal cord injuries through no or little fault of their own. People shouldn’t have to worry about covering their care costs when they were not the one who caused a crash that resulted in severe injuries.