After an accident, you may not realize right away that you experienced spinal cord trauma. You may continue going about your everyday life and only notice symptoms as time goes on.
Learning about the most common of these signs can help you realize what is wrong.
Lung trouble
According to the Mayo Clinic, if you are struggling to draw in a deep breath or breathe normally, then you may be dealing with a spinal cord injury. Finding it hard to cough, as well as noticing an increase in general pain around your chest, can mean the accident hurt your respiratory system.
An injury in your lungs can eventually lead to pneumonia. Problems in this area of your body may not be noticeable right away, since the rush of adrenaline after an accident can mask some signs of trauma.
Sensation confusion
Having the ability to determine whether what you are touching is hot or cold can impact a lot of your decisions. You may avoid burning your hand on a stove because you could tell the heat was going to harm you.
Spinal cord injuries can leave you unable to tell the difference between these sensations, which can confuse you. You may also notice that you cannot feel the pressure of people or items touching you.
Bladder issues
After a spinal cord injury, you may not be able to tell when your bladder is full or if you completely emptied it. Being unable to completely empty your bladder can lead to kidney stones and infections.
Struggling with these changes in how your body works can leave you frustrated. Learning about spinal cord injury symptoms can help you decide what to do next.
