Spinal cord injuries come with many physical, emotional, and financial challenges. If you or a loved one has sustained a spinal cord injury (“SCI”), you need all the support you can get to adjust and thrive. Let’s explore some of the valuable resources and supports that can help you navigate post-injury life.
Understanding spinal cord injuries
A SCI occurs when trauma (such as a slip and fall or car accident) or disease damages the spinal cord, resulting in loss of sensation and/or muscle function. When the SCI is caused by an accident or external trauma, it is known as a “traumatic spinal cord injury.” It’s estimated that more than half of SCIs in Canada are the result of trauma.
The location of the damage within the spinal cord (the “injury level”) determines what parts of the body may be affected and what complications may arise. An injury to the upper region of the spine can cause quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia), while an injury to the lower spine can cause paraplegia.
Care, support, and services after a traumatic spinal cord injury
No two spinal cord injuries are alike. In addition to regular check-ins with their family doctor, each person with a SCI should have care and services tailored to their individual needs. Here are some of the most common supports that benefit individuals with SCIs:
Physical therapy to promote recovery, prevent muscle wasting, and improve capacity to perform daily activities.
Occupational therapy to promote independence and strengthen functional abilities necessary for day-to-day life (e.g., self-care, cooking, maintaining your home).
Nursing/attendant care to assist with bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, wound care, administrating medication, etc.
Adaptive sports and recreation to boost well-being and improve breathing, circulation, mobility, and strength.
Vocational rehabilitation to assess employment interests, skills and abilities and create a plan for returning to work.
Social workers who can support the SCI victim and their family by helping them cope and adjust, and who can provide information and referrals to community programs and resources.
Physiatrist (rehabilitation specialist) who assists with all aspects of rehab, including pain management, UTIs, bone density, blood pressure, medication, etc. and who can connect you with other rehab resources.
Psychologist to address mental health concerns including depression, grief, and anxiety, and provide supports for the SCI victim and their loved ones (counselling, relaxation techniques, coping strategies).
Resources and supports for SCI victims and their families
As we just discussed, social workers, counsellors and psychologists are essential to the adjustment process, not just for the injured person but also their family members. The changes and losses that come with a traumatic SCI are experienced by the SCI victim and those close to them. Caregiver burnout and isolation are real issues that shouldn’t be ignored.
Peer support is also vital. A person with spinal cord injury should connect with a peer (or several peers) who are also living with a traumatic SCI. Family members of SCI victims also benefit immensely from connecting with people who are supporting their loved ones post-injury. Spinal Cord Injury Ontario offers a peer support program to connect people. SCIO is also an excellent resource for information and counselling in all aspects of community re-integration, including education and vocation. Praxis Spinal Cord Institute can be another great source of support. Their website contains helpful information about living with SCI and a list of SCI resources.
Financial support is vital to maximizing recovery and well-being
Spinal cord injuries often require lifelong medical care and rehabilitation services. You may not be able to do the job you did before the injury, or you may no longer be able to work at all. You may need to renovate your home to make it accessible or modify your vehicle to make driving possible.
To put it bluntly: living with a SCI is expensive. The estimated lifetime economic burden of living with an SCI ranges from $1.5 million for incomplete paraplegia to $3 million for complete tetraplegia. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic SCI, advice and guidance from an experienced spinal cord injury lawyer is an excellent resource. A spinal cord injury lawyer at our firm can review your case and advise you on options for seeking financial compensation to ease the burden.
For example, if the traumatic SCI was caused by an Ontario motor vehicle accident, you are entitled to claim Accident Benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. No-fault accident benefits cover wage loss, medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, adaptive aides, and attendant care benefits, among other things, up to the applicable policy limits (usually $1 million, unless you purchased an additional $1 million in optional benefit coverage).
If the traumatic SCI was caused by someone else’s fault or negligence (e.g., a car accident, slip and fall, defective product, or workplace injury), a spinal cord injury lawyer can build a strong legal case to recover damages from the wrongdoer. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can obtain damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, loss of future earnings, out-of-pocket expenses, and the costs of future care. Most third-party auto insurance policies in Ontario carry $1 million limits, but the applicable limits may be higher if they (or you) purchased additional coverage.
Our spinal cord injury lawyers can also help you navigate long-term disability insurance claims, LTD appeals, and other potential sources of funding to ease the financial burden of an SCI. We also have a network of local resources and can refer you to specialists, treatment providers, and other professionals as needed.
Support and Legal Advice from a Trusted Spinal Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury and want to claim compensation for your damages, the lawyers at Kelly Greenway Bruce can help. We'll fight tirelessly to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Spinal cord injury lawyers at Kelly Greenway Bruce can analyze your case, explain your legal options, and help you build a strong claim for compensation. We welcome you to contact us today at our Oshawa or Lindsay office today to book a free case evaluation.
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