There’s no ignoring a spinal cord injury. Every time you move, you’re met with stiffness, pain, and discomfort. What’s more, you may face a long recovery period that prevents you from planning for the future. So, what now?
You don’t have to suffer the inconvenience of a debilitating condition any longer. Naples Community Injury Center offers Estero spine injury treatment to those living in and around Collier County. With a customized treatment plan, you could better your life. To schedule an appointment, dial (239) 631-5445.
Our Spine Injury Team Focuses on These Conditions
Whether you’re suffering from a chronic condition or an acute injury, we’re ready to help with:
- Scoliosis
- Herniated discs
- Soft-tissue trauma
- Fractured vertebrae
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries
We understand that other conditions can also affect your spinal cord. For instance, if you suffer from whiplash, you may have pain that radiates down your spinal cord. In that instance, we can develop a treatment plan that aims to better both the original injury and its subsequent pain.
What to Expect From Our Estero Team
During your first visit, we’ll ask for some basic information about your condition, along with other facts about your medical history. From there, we’ll curate a treatment plan that aims to better your pain levels and overall quality of life. How long treatment lasts (along with its exact details) depends on your situation. We aim to do everything possible to help you reach maximum medical improvement.
Estero Spine Injury Treatment Options
Through a series of physiotherapeutic and chiropractic treatments, we hope to help you reach maximum medical improvement. Your regimen may comprise:
Pain Management Techniques
Our facility doesn’t rely on addictive painkillers with unpleasant side effects. We promote healing using the body’s natural responses. Our pain management techniques target the affected area, and we continuously monitor your improvement.
Neurological Advancements
At Naples Community Injury Center, our team comprises physicians with your best interest in mind. One of those physicians is Dr. Baldir Lopez, a medical doctor who specializes in neurological ailments. If a spinal or neurological disorder causes you pain, he can render the appropriate treatment.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Techniques
With time, physical therapy can improve your balance, coordination, and range of motion. We can even share some exercises you can perform at home.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Through chiropractic adjustments, we apply pressure to the affected area, hoping to reduce pressure on the nerves and surrounding tissues. Spinal alignment could also decrease the pain and discomfort you experience.
Lifestyle Changes
Suffering a spinal cord injury in Estero can create a “new normal” when it comes to your day-to-day life. To accommodate your new condition, you may need to make some changes, which may include:
- Limiting your alcohol intake
- Losing weight
- Relying on assistive devices, like wheelchairs or motorized scooters
- Hiring in-home help
- Taking time off work
- Refraining from strenuous activity
Since 1994, Naples Community Injury Center has helped injured patients better their lives. As such, we may recommend lifestyle changes not listed here.
We Treat Spinal Cord Injuries in Estero Arising From These Situations
Mayo Clinic reports that traffic accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. If you were recently in a collision, we can diagnose your condition, monitor your injury, and make changes to your treatment plan as necessary.
We can also supplement the information needed to advance your personal injury claim. For instance, with your permission, we can submit your treatment plan to the liable insurer. This could bolster your claim and demonstrate the severity of your condition.
We offer spinal injury treatment in Estero to those in the aftermath of:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Construction site accidents
- Assaults and gunshot wounds
- Sports-related incidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse or neglect
We also treat injuries arising from congenital conditions and age.
What Should I Do After Suffering a Spinal Cord Injury in Estero?
Your next steps depend on your situation. Yet, here are some considerations that could promote your recovery:
- Seek medical attention. If you’re still at the accident scene, you should accept help from first responders. This may involve going to the emergency room. If days have passed since the initial incident, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our team. We can stabilize your condition and outline your treatment plan.
- Refrain from strenuous activity. You may feel tempted to return to your normal activities in the aftermath of your initial injury. Yet, doing so could make your condition worse. You don’t want to risk paralysis or any other complication.
- Keep all injury-related information. You might visit Naples Community Injury Center in conjunction with another healthcare professional, like an orthopedic doctor. If you receive any information from another doctor, we want to see those details, too. For instance, we can assess any x-rays to further understand your condition.
- Use assistive devices as instructed. Your doctor may recommend using a wheelchair or other assistive devices to accommodate your condition. You shouldn’t try to “tough out” a spinal cord injury. These devices are designed to make your life easier. Neglecting to use them could put further strain on your spine and the surrounding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Injuries in Estero
As you consider scheduling an appointment with our team, you may have these questions:
What Does It Mean to Reach Maximum Medical Improvement?
Spinal cord injuries are permanent. This means they never fully go away. When you reach maximum medical improvement, your body has recovered the most it can. This looks different for everyone. For instance, reaching maximum medical improvement for one person may involve regaining some of their balance and mobility. For another, it may mean a decrease in the overall pain they feel.
Our team does everything possible to help your body heal to the best of its ability. We monitor your progress and make changes as necessary.
Do Spinal Cord Injuries Always Cause Paralysis?
Not necessarily. Whether a spinal cord injury causes paralysis depends on the injury itself, usually, its location. The higher up the injury is on the spinal cord, the more paralysis a person may suffer.
If you’re living with paralysis, we can help you adapt to your condition. This may include undergoing occupational therapy or relearning certain tasks.
How Long Does It Take to Reach Maximum Medical Improvement
How long it takes to reach maximum medical improvement depends on many factors unique to your situation, including:
- The severity of your injury
- The injury’s cause
- How your body responds to treatment
- Whether you have any pre-existing health conditions
- Your lifestyle habits
While there’s no cure for a spinal cord injury, we do everything possible to better your life.
What Are the Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury?
Spinal cord injuries can quickly worsen without intensive care. We urge you to seek prompt medical attention if you’re suffering from one or more of the following symptoms:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of bowel control or function
- Back pain or numbness
- The inability to control certain parts of the body
- Problems breathing
- Adverse changes in sexual function
There are two main types of spinal cord injuries: incomplete and complete spinal cord injuries. An incomplete spinal cord injury means that you may have some movement and feeling below the injury site. A complete spinal cord injury means that you have no sensation or movement below the injury site.
Our team can assess your symptoms and diagnose your condition. From there, we can implement a treatment plan that aims to promote your well-being.
Listen to What Satisfied Patients Share About Our Southwest Florida Staff
When asked about the care they received, previous patients disclosed:
- “My experience was incredible. From the receptionist to the treatment service is first class. Dr. Oscar Nieves is an excellent professional with great medical skills and knowledge.” ––Inez P.
- “The staff is amazing. Sandra, Jennifer and Andrea are fantastic. Always welcoming, caring and professional. It is frightening being injured in an accident. Everyone made my Grandson and myself feel like we were their only patients and how important our care was.” ––Mary Ann M.
- “I loved going to this place for both Physical Therapy and Chiropractic! They are very personable, and know what they are doing. I went to them for 3 months after a car accident, immediately they went to work on my back and shoulders. By the time I had finished Therapy, they relieved the pain to such an extent I could function in every day life.” ––Philip R.
Our team is personally invested in every patient who walks through our doors. We hope that at the conclusion of your treatment regimen, you’ll have similar sentiments to those listed above.
Schedule Your First Visit With Naples Community Injury Center Today
Interested in scheduling your first appointment? Call Naples Community Injury Center at (239) 631-5445. We’re excited to meet you and start crafting your Estero spine injury treatment plan. Today, you can take the first step toward bettering your life.