Spinal cord injuries occur either when a person’s spinal cord itself is damaged or when a person’s nerves and the base of the spinal canal are damaged. A spine injury can be utterly debilitating for a Michigan resident, and may lead to loss of bodily function, loss of sensation, as well as a loss of strength. These changes may be permanent.
Due to the life-altering effects of a spine injury, these types of injuries are often qualifying injuries for Social Security disability benefits. A spine injury can lead to a person losing the ability to control his or her limbs. Whether this occurs will depend both on how severe the injury is, and where the injury occurred. An injury that is deemed “complete” will involve the loss of almost all sensory feeling, as well as an inability to control motor function or movement below the point of the spinal cord injury. An “incomplete” spinal cord injury means that a person has some feeling and motor function below the point of injury.
In addition to a loss of feeling and loss of movement, a spinal cord injury may result in a person experiencing spasms or exaggerated reflex activities. A person with a spinal injury may notice changes in sexual function, as well as a loss of bladder or bowel control. A person may also suffer from difficulty breathing due to an injury to the spinal cord.
Spinal cord injuries can be severe and necessitate long-term care. A person may be facing an inability to work and may be unable to perform daily tasks of living. The consequences of a spinal cord injury can reach all areas of a Michigander’s life. Therefore, the Social Security disability benefits for injury that may be available through the Social Security Administration can provide a tremendous amount of help for someone dealing with a spinal cord injury.
Source: mayoclinic.org, “Diseases and Conditions: Spinal cord injury,” accessed April 15, 2016
