Whether you suffer a spinal cord injury in Indianapolis from a catastrophic car accident or an unfortunate fall, these injuries risk a life-long impact on your future. Medical science has yet to devise a cure for SCIs outside of surgery and rehabilitation and so whether the injury is complete or incomplete, you may have heavy costs ahead of you after all that recovery.
The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center breaks down the average yearly cost of SCIs based on severity. Knowing these stats may help you if you look into a damages or compensation claim.
SCI severity
In the best-case scenario, you recover fully from an SCI. But the impact may be permanent. This ranges from tingling or numb sensations all the way to full body paralysis.
If you suffer any loss of motor control, that demands a certain lifestyle change. If you suffer paraplegia, meaning the partial or full paralysis of your lower half, you may need to invest in wheelchairs, disability access renovations on your house and other adjustments. In the event of low or high tetraplegia, or the partial to full paralysis of your whole body, you may require around-the-clock assistance from another person.
SCI costs on average
Surgery and physical therapy make up the bulk of costs and they happen primarily in the first year. These first-year averages range between $375,000 and over $1.14 million depending on the damage. Subsequent year costs average between $45,000 and nearly $200,000. This does not include indirect costs like the loss of your job or productivity.
When facing an SCI, the costs might weigh on you as much as the physical and emotional toll. But researching further into the widespread impact and costs may help you transition to your new normal with less financial pressure.