Spinal cord injury patients are at risk for many other conditions

A spinal cord injury can have a significant impact on a person’s life — possibly forever. It also puts them at a higher risk of developing other conditions, including mental health disorders and chronic diseases.

A recently published study compared adults who had suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury with those who had not. Researchers found that those who had suffered a spinal cord injury were 20% more likely to have depressive disorders , 5% more likely to have anxiety disorders and 13.5% more likely to have three or more mental health conditions.

They were also more likely to develop diseases including cardiovascular, pulmonary and liver disease, cancer and diabetes. The doctor who was the study’s lead author said that this “makes sense, as patients with spinal cord injuries have extreme sedentary behavior including prolonged bed rest after injury.”

Another doctor involved with the study says that the results highlight the need to better understand both the mental and physical health needs of people who are dealing with a spinal cord injury.

If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury as the result of a crash caused by another driver, it’s essential to make sure that they get the compensation they need for all of their short-term and long-term health care needs. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to determine what these will be in the weeks and even months following a crash. An experienced attorney can help you work to get a settlement that will take in to account the expenses you may be facing for many years to come.