A diagnosis of paralysis changes how people live. Relationships, health, jobs, and financial situations are altered. For some, the incident that caused paralysis may be traumatic, sudden, or violent and may bring about post-traumatic stress disorder.
The U.S. population in 2021 was approximately 333 million people. The latest estimated incidence rate of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is 54 in one million people. This equals about 18,000 new cases a year.
The prevalence of people living with paralysis in the U.S. is estimated at 5.4 million people of which 1.4 million have a spinal cord injury.
The spinal column envelops and protects the spinal cord, which consists of 33 vertebrae, cartilage, and small spaces called foramen – the passageway for spinal nerves. Direct injury to the foramen increases the risk of paralysis.
The most common causes of spinal cord injury (SCI) are motor vehicle accidents and falls. Other causes include:
Other risk factors can include alcohol or substance use and not wearing proper protective gear such as seatbelts or sports equipment. Furthermore, people aged 16-30 or over 65 may become paralyzed because of dangerous falls. Approximately 78% of new SCI cases are male. The loss of mobility may increase the risk of mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The majority of paraplegic veterans are men between the ages of 18 and 25.
Military personnel face situations that most civilians will never encounter. For example, combat places military personnel at risk of paralysis from gunshots, shrapnel, conventional military explosives, or improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Returning home after becoming paralyzed can affect military personnel in different ways. Some may be able to adjust to life after becoming paralyzed, while others may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The National Center for PTSD, a part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, reports approximately six out of 100 people will have PTSD.
Post-traumatic stress disorder may develop after a person has experienced a scary, dangerous, or shocking situation. Feelings of fear during or after a traumatic event are expected. Fear is a healthy feeling that is part of our body's “fight or flight” response in traumatic situations. This response helps protect or respond to a dangerous situation.
Most will recover from the feelings they experienced during a fearful event. But, some will continue to have feelings of fear or anxiety. Feelings of fear or anxiety that last for an extended period may be PTSD.