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Do you have spinal myelopathy after your slip-and-fall accident?

On Behalf of | Feb 10, 2023 | Slip & Fall |

When a person is young, a slip-and-fall accident often is more harmful to the ego than to the body. As individuals age, though, falls become potentially more catastrophic. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control;l and Prevention falls sent roughly 3 million seniors to the emergency room in 2020 alone.

As men and women age, their bones often become weaker and more brittle. This can lead to spinal myelopathy, which is a compression of the spinal cord in the neck or back. Unfortunately, a slip-and-fall accident also can cause or contribute to the condition.

Signs of spinal myelopathy

The spinal cord transmits neurological symptoms through the body, so compression of the spinal cord can interfere with nerve signals. If you have spinal myelopathy, you are likely to have one or more of the following symptoms:

  • Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
  • Loss of fine motor skills, especially in the hands
  • Pain in the neck, back, legs or arms
  • Headaches

Common treatment options

As you might suspect, spinal myelopathy can be a medical emergency. Indeed, doctors are likely to want to alleviate the pressure on your spinal cord as quickly as possible. They typically can do so with a surgical procedure that removes bones and other tissues. It is not uncommon for those with spinal myelopathy to require physical and vocational rehabilitation, though.

Even though treating your spinal myelopathy can be an expensive proposition, you do not want to allow the condition either to worsen or to endanger your life. After all, you might be eligible for significant financial compensation to help you pay for the medical care you deserve.