Orange County is famous for its shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. When you visit these places, you expect them to be reasonably safe. Unfortunately, damaged flooring or an unaddressed spill can cause you to trip, slip or fall. If that happens, you might suffer a catastrophic injury.
A spinal compression is one such injury. This injury happens when the bones, disks or ligaments in your spine move too close to your spinal cord. If you have the symptoms of spinal cord compression, you must seek immediate medical treatment.
Causes of spinal cord compression
As individuals age, the bones and disks in their spines can naturally degrade and shift. While degradation is a common cause of spinal compression, you also can develop the condition after a slip-and-fall accident. Indeed, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, accidents are a leading cause of the condition, especially if you fall backward and hit your head.
Symptoms of spinal cord compression
Following any serious slip, trip or fall, it is advisable to seek a medical evaluation. After all, you might have injuries that have few or even no apparent symptoms. If you have any of the following, though, you may have a spinal compression that requires immediate treatment:
- Neck or back pain or stiffness
- Numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- Weakness in your arms or legs
- Difficulty with your fine motor skills
Even though modern medicine provides some options, spinal compression often requires surgery and physical rehabilitation. Ultimately, to ensure you have access to the care you need to make a full recovery, it may be necessary to pursue financial compensation for your injury.