Getting the most accurate diagnosis and best SCI treatment is critical to a successful recovery.
Spinal cord injuries are assessed by medical professionals based on three factors:
No prognosis is set in stone; there are different factors that can change or improve a prognosis. For example, Pat Rummerfield is a shining example of how willpower and care can alter what seems like a set path in life. Rummerfield, who broke his neck in multiple places and wasn’t expected to survive more than 72 hours, can now walk and run as well.
Rummerfield engaged in a year of physical rehabilitation and then did personal rehab at home with his father for years after that. After 17 years of grueling rehab, he became a fully functional quadriplegic.
Treatments for spinal cord injuries are both highly challenging, but the physical and emotional strain involved are often worth the recovery opportunity such treatments provide. Some of the different types of spinal cord injury treatments include:
Different types of treatments are available through different care providers located across the United States. The facilities for these treatments range from rehabilitation centers and hospitals to ABT centers.
The quality of care you seek shouldn’t be limited only to medical-related concerns. The cost of hospital stays, doctor visits, physical and occupational therapy, mental health counseling, and prescriptions all quickly add up and can significantly affect your financial life as well. Add to that the cost of lost wages, receiving daily or 24/7 ongoing care from a caregiver or personal assistant, and a multitude of other hidden costs that you’ll likely have to pay, and these numbers become significantly worse.
According to the most recent statistics from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), the average annual expenses for someone living with a high tetraplegia (C1-C4) cervical spinal cord injury tops more than $1.1 million in the first year and $191,000 for each subsequent year. For someone in their mid-20s, this is an estimated lifetime cost of nearly $5 million.
A spinal cord injury lawsuit can be a way to receive compensation for your injuries if they were caused by the actions or inactions of another person or entity, such as a trucking company or automobile manufacturer. A caring and experienced spinal cord injury lawyer, such as a lawyer from Swope, Rodante P.A., helps SCI survivors receive compensation for seemingly impossible trials. For example, the Swope, Rodante P.A. team helped a U.S. Army veteran receive a $12.5 million settlement for his injuries from an accident that rendered him a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic.
To learn more about living with a spinal cord injury, treatments, and legal options, download our free resource by clicking on the image below.