Some of the most serious injuries you can suffer in an accident involve your brain and spinal cord. Damage to these areas could result in life-altering wounds and conditions. Arguably, one of the most catastrophic injuries you can suffer is a type of paralysis known as hemiplegia.
Hemiplegia requires significant time and extensive therapy to treat. In some people, it can be a permanent condition that transforms their lives. Below, you’ll learn more about hemiplegia, why it occurs, and what treatments may be available.
Understanding Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia is a form of paralysis that only affects one side of the body, causing the muscles therein to be either completely limp or spastic (contracting uncontrollably). Your backbone will always act as the dividing line between the side of your body you can move and the one you can’t.
If a brain injury is the cause of the condition, the paralysis will be on the opposite side of the affected hemisphere. For example, if the left side of your brain is damaged, then the right side of your body will be the one with hemiplegia.
In particular, the condition would be referred to as acquired hemiplegia, as it is something you experience later on in life due to an illness or injury. People can also suffer from congenital hemiplegia, a specific form of the condition that an individual is born with.
What Are the Symptoms of Hemiplegia?
Hemiplegia can present with a variety of symptoms, depending on its severity. Some of the most common signs of the condition include the following:
- Loss of balance
- Trouble walking
- Impaired coordination
- Muscle fatigue or stiffness on one side
- Poor fine motor skills (difficulty grabbing objects)
- Permanently contracted muscles
Depending on the cause of the condition, there may be other symptoms, as well. If the hemiplegia occurred because of a brain injury, for example, you can also experience trouble speaking, changes in behavior, and even concentration issues.
Children can also develop hemiplegia, which may manifest in the form of them playing only with one hand or walking on their tiptoes. They may struggle to meet development milestones as well.
Common Causes of Hemiplegia
Hemiplegia typically occurs because of an injury to the brain. Falls are the leading cause of brain injuries, and they can happen anywhere. Slipping and falling on wet floors or tripping on a broken stair step can result in serious injuries that could even be fatal. The youngest and oldest age groups are the most vulnerable, but anyone can experience a fall.
Car accidents and other traffic collisions are another common cause of brain injuries. Hitting your head on any part of the vehicle or being jostled with enough force to send your brain crashing into your skull can result in life-changing injuries.
One specific type of hemiplegia, Brown-Sequard syndrome, is caused by spinal cord injuries. Lesions on the spinal cord as a result of trauma could lead to loss of sensation and paralysis.
Additionally, newborns may experience hemiplegia as a result of a birth injury. If the baby is temporarily deprived of oxygen, brain damage may occur in only one hemisphere, triggering the condition.
Hemiplegia Treatment Options
The most effective form of treatment for hemiplegia will depend on the underlying cause of the condition and its severity. Physical therapy is usually one of the most helpful options because it can strengthen muscles and improve balance. If you have spastic hemiplegia, a physical therapist can assist you in learning how to stretch the tight muscles safely.
Occupational therapy makes it easier for people with hemiplegia to live a more normal life by teaching them how to perform everyday tasks. Sessions can focus on relearning how to interact with family and friends and how to adjust to work.
Another treatment option is modified constraint-induced movement therapy, which encourages the person to use the weakest part of their body. It can help the process of rebuilding nerve function.
Across all of these potential treatment plans, assistive devices are an important element. Using canes, braces, or walkers can help improve muscular control and stability.
Your Legal Rights After Experiencing an Accident That Causes Hemiplegia
If your hemiplegia developed as the result of an accident caused by someone else’s poor conduct, it may be possible to file a personal injury claim. Most of the time, you’ll have to prove that negligence occurred, which means demonstrating that the other party breached their duty of care, resulting in your injuries.
Say, for instance, that you fell at a store because of warped floorboards and hit your head hard enough to suffer a brain injury and experience hemiplegia. You would have to demonstrate that the owner or manager failed in their duty to ensure that the premises were safe for customers. And though that might sound easy, the legal process is complex.
Having the best chance at recovering fair compensation all but requires that you hire a lawyer. They’ll be able to gather the evidence you need and will deal with the legal aspects of the case while you focus all of your efforts on healing.
Damages You May Be Entitled To
Treating hemiplegia is expensive, as you will need to cover many hours of physical and occupational therapy. You’ll also have to make changes to your home and vehicle to accommodate your mobility issues. Economic damages compensate you for these financial losses, as well as those you will likely experience in the future.
In many instances, someone with hemiplegia might not be able to work in the same capacity as they did before the accident. If that’s the case for you, you can also claim lost wages and loss of earning potential.
Not all losses are financial, however. Hemiplegia can cause serious psychological distress, seeing as you may not be able to live your life as you want to. Non-economic damages help to cover these aspects of your injuries.
Getting Compensation For Your Hemiplegia-Related Losses
Suffering from a condition like hemiplegia can be devastating. Still, if it occurred because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct, you may be eligible to file a claim against them to obtain compensation. The best chance of succeeding lies in hiring a team of experienced personal injury lawyers to represent you.
Contact the Minnesota Personal Injury Law Firm of Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys For Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Edina.
We proudly serve Hennepin County, Stearns County, and its surrounding areas:
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Minneapolis
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 615
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(800) 292-1979
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – St. Cloud
1010 W St Germain St # 320
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-1000
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Edina
5200 Willson Rd #203
Edina, MN 55424
(952) 697-5560