Each year, many New England residents are the victims of spinal cord injuries. When they happen, many factors determine whether or not disability will be a part of the prognosis. But when it is, this injury can qualify you for Massachusetts Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.
Each year about 10,000 people suffer this type of injury, which is always a major concern because the spinal cord cannot heal itself. 80% of spinal cord injuries happen to males, and most injuries overall happen to people between the ages of 16 and 30.
Anyone at any time can injure the spinal cord. Most often the causes are:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Falls
- Sports injuries
- Certain tumors, infections or inflammations
What is the Spinal Cord?
The spinal cord is made up of nerves, encased in the spinal canal, that travel from the base of your brain all the way down your back along the vertebrae that make up your backbone.
Spinal cord nerves give signals to your arms, legs, chest and abdomen. They also signal your organs, including the heart, bowels, bladder and lungs. These nerves also carry messages from all these organs and body parts back to your brain, making it possible for you to feel pain and other touch sensations, adjust body temperature and determine body positions.
What is a Spinal Cord Injury?
Simply put, a spinal cord injury (SCI) is any injury to any part of the spinal cord that is caused by trauma and not a disease. The degree of injury can range from a bit of discomfort or some loss of function (incomplete) to paralysis (complete).
A complete injury means that there is no function below the level of the injury. When the injury occurs to the upper spinal cord in the neck, quadriplegia, or the paralysis of both arms and legs, can result. When it happens lower, it can cause paraplegia, or paralysis of the legs.
Because of the importance of the spinal cord to the function of the human body, serious injury can cause you to suffer serious disabilities. At this point, your needs may go beyond medical into financial concerns, making it necessary to look to the SSA disability program for extra money to cover your daily expenses. This is where applying for SSA disability benefits becomes necessary for many people.
Schedule a Free Consultation
The Manchester, New Hampshire Social Security disability attorneys at Keefe Disability Law can help. We have assisted people throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont in applying for and receiving the benefits they desperately need.
Call us toll free today at 888-904-6847 to see what we can do for you. And please order or free book, 7 Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Social Security Disability Claim, for more information.
Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?
If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.
