Can Spinal Injuries Heal?

Your spine is the highway that connects your brain to your body—clear communication between the two is crucial for healthy motor function. When damage occurs along the spine, whether to nerve fibers, tissues, or bones, it can lead to faulty signals, temporary movement issues, or even total paralysis.

Unfortunately, many spinal injuries don't heal completely. According to research by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, about 5.4 million people in the United States were living with paralysis in 2013. The same study also found that spinal cord injuries were the second leading cause of paralysis after stroke.

What Are Spinal Cord Injuries?

The spinal cord is a cylindrical collection of nerve cells, nerve fibers, and blood vessels. They are protected by the spinal column, which comprises 33 bones called vertebrae that are separated by intervertebral discs. The spine can be divided into several areas—injury to these areas may result in different outcomes. The cervical spine begins just below the skull and reaches down to the shoulders. The thoracic spine is the area between the shoulders down to the bottom of the ribs. The lumbar spine is located in the lower back, and the sacrum is located in the lowest area above the tailbone or coccyx.

The higher an injury is located on the spinal cord, the more of the body is likely to be affected. For instance, a severe cervical spine injury can lead to complete paralysis of all limbs, whereas an injury lower down may only affect the legs and lower body parts.

Spinal cord injuries are typically classified as complete and incomplete. An incomplete spinal cord injury involves some nerve cell damage. In these scenarios, the person may have some degree of sensation and function below the injury, which means there is potential for recovery. In a complete spinal cord injury, a person loses all feeling and function below the damaged site. This type of injury usually results in quadriplegia, paraplegia, or paralysis.

Why Are Spinal Injuries So Serious?

The spine is responsible for receiving and transmitting vital information between your brain and body. It plays a critical role in controlling the numerous bodily mechanisms that allow you to do both simple and complex actions. This includes things like breathing or throwing a football in a perfect spiral while running. That's why an injury to the spinal cord can be devastating. Such injury may result in a person being unable to feel certain sensations, enjoy activities they used to, or even perform their job.

Who Treats Spinal Cord Injuries?

If you suspect spinal cord injury, please contact emergency medical personnel as soon as possible.

Generally, after a motor vehicle or pedestrian crash, EMTs may place a person on a backboard or in a collar if they suspect damage to the spinal cord. They may also use a breathing tube if necessary. Once the individual makes it to the hospital, ER doctors will check for movement and sensation and may employ tests such as MRIs, CT scans, or X-rays. Surgery and realignment of the spine are common treatment methods for spinal cord injuries.

Which Area of the Spine Is Most At Risk for Traumatic Injury?

The cervical spine is generally considered most at risk for acute spinal cord injury because of its high mobility while supporting the weight of the head. Cervical spine injuries, such as whiplash and blunt force trauma, are common even in minor car accidents. In severe cases, they can cause lasting paralysis and death.

What Should You Do if You Think a Person Has Spinal Injury?

If you believe someone has suffered a spinal cord injury, call 911 immediately. Do not move them or remove anything they may be wearing on their head or neck, such as a helmet. Try to keep the injured person as still as possible until an ambulance arrives. Suppose it is absolutely necessary to move the person—i.e., because they are unable to breathe or for some other serious reason—ask another person to help you to keep the injured person's spine and neck as aligned as possible while doing so.

If a spinal injury has been confirmed by a medical professional, consider asking them questions such as:

Where is the injury located?
How severe is the injury, and what are its effects?
Is the damage permanent, or can it be treated, and how?
What are the long-term effects of the injury?
What are the warning signs that medical treatment is needed?
What services or organizations may be able to help?

What Happens if the Spine Is Damaged?

Damage to the spine can cause a variety of problems, including paralysis, weakness, pain, tingling, disruptions to bladder or bowel function, and more. It may also lead to secondary complications such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, depression, and a host of other issues.

How Long Does It Take for a Spine Injury to Heal?

Spinal injury healing time can range from months to years. Recovery, when possible, generally happens within the first 18 months after a spinal cord injury. The majority of a person's recovery usually occurs within the first six months, but minor improvements can continue for one to two years.

Can Spinal Injury Heal on Its Own?

Not all spinal cord injuries require surgery, but a spinal cord cannot regenerate and heal on its own as skin cells can. All spinal injuries require medical attention.

Why Can't the Spinal Cord Heal Itself?

The central nervous system is made up of a delicate series of nerve connections and tissues. The spine is made up of 31 nerves and roots that carry impulses and commands from the brain to the rest of the body. Unfortunately, adult nerve cells do not regrow once damaged, meaning that spinal cord injuries often result in permanent changes to a person's abilities.

Can Spinal Fractures Heal without Surgery?

Many spinal fractures do not need surgery and can be treated with custom back braces, pain medication, physical therapy, and a reduction in mobility. However, fractures should always be evaluated by a doctor. When they are not treated properly, they can lead to lasting damage, pain that radiates through the legs, a compressed spine, and a stooped posture.

When Should I Speak to a Spinal Injury Lawyer?

If you or a loved one has suffered from a spinal injury that you believe was caused by someone else's negligence, such as in a car or motorcycle accident, consider speaking with a lawyer. Spinal cord injury lawyers can help you file a claim that may cover the costs of economic and non-economic damages related to the injury. Note that there is a statute of limitations for filing a claim after an accident, so it is best to contact an attorney sooner rather than later.

How Much Is a Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit Worth?

There is no average settlement for spinal cord injury because the methods of treatment and severity of these injuries vary widely. Spinal injury lawsuit settlements typically account for damages like medical and other financial costs as well as those like pain and changes to a person's lifestyle.

Can Spinal Injuries Heal: Myths & Facts

Myth #1: All spinal injuries result in paralysis.

Fact #1: Many incomplete spinal cord injuries do not involve paralysis. In some cases, the person may recover almost completely.

Myth #2: Spinal cord injuries are untreatable.

Fact #2: Spinal cord injuries are treatable through medication, surgery, and bracing or mechanical realignment.

Myth #3: A complete bed rest is the best way to heal from a spinal injury.

Fact #3: Extended bed rest can lead to muscle stiffness, bedsores, and other additional risk factors. Doctors often recommend that those recovering from a spinal injury engage in moderate physical activity.

Myth #4: Spinal cord injuries only affect the physical health of patients.

Fact #4: Spinal cord injuries and the lifestyle changes they bring can contribute to depression and other mental and emotional health challenges.

Myth #5: You don't need a lawyer for a spinal injury lawsuit.

Fact #5: Spinal cord injury law firms offer people who have suffered an injury due to another party's negligence the chance to receive compensation. They may be able to recover the cost of their medical treatment, modifications to their home and vehicle due to their injury, and other expenses.