Spinal cord injuries are those traumas to the spinal cord which result in a permanent loss of normal function, including loss of movement and/or feeling. The spinal cord, contrary to what many people believe, does not have to be severed completely in order for the victim of the injury to experience a loss of function. The nature of spinal cord injuries spinal cord injuries is such that they affect not only the victim, but the victim's family or loved ones, who often feel helpless to relieve the victims' suffering and overwhelmed by the terrific emotional and financial burdens they may be asked to carry.

There are currently more than a quarter of million Americans whose lives have been turned upside-down by their spinal cord injuries, and 12,000 new victims join them every year. Slightly more than half of those victims have lost the use of their legs, and site slightly less than half are, like Christopher Reeve, quadriplegics. Nearly 4 of every five spinal cord injury victims are boys or men, and most of the men suffered their injuries between the ages of 16 and 30. These injuries can condemn their victims to decades of suffering. About four of every 10 spinal cord injuries occur because of automobile accidents, while another 40% are the result of violence or falls. Spinal cord injuries can happen in a heartbeat, to people going about their ordinary lives and not performing any obviously dangerous activities. When they happen, they happen to people who have only a one in two chance of carrying health insurance which will cover the costs of the spinal cord injuries. Those costs include the cost of an average hospital stay of 18 days followed by an average rehabilitation center stay of about six weeks.

About 4% of spinal cord in three victims are so severely injured that they must be committed to nursing homes, while nine in 10 of them return to their homes following their hospitalization. Those returning to their homes will require specialized care and medical equipment assist them while they try to recover as much function as possible. The first thing that the families or loved ones of spinal cord injury victims want is information. They want information on the nature of the injury; the possible treatments; long-term care issues; and legal issues. They want to know, especially if the victim's health insurance does not cover the costs of his or her care, if they have any legal recourse to help compensate for the victim's medical expenses.

Finally, they want the comfort and support which they can only get from those who have already experienced the devastating consequences of spinal cord injuries. They can find all of that information, and much, much more, at the Catastrophic Injury Resource Center website. Committed to being the Internet's number one source of quality information on all the issues facing those trying to deal with catastrophic injuries, the catastrophic injury resource Center is waiting to help you. Why not visit their website, or contact them at 1-800-669-7700 four whenever free information concerning financial, legal, and fundraising assistance you need to help deal with your spinal cord injury catastrophe?