Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord. The spinal cord is a soft bundle of nerves that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back. It runs through the spinal canal, a tunnel formed by holes in the bones of the spine. The bony spine helps protect the spinal cord. See pictures of the spine and the spinal cord.
Spinal cord injuries usually begin with a blow that fractures or dislocates your vertebrae, the bone disks that make up your spine. Most injuries don't sever your spinal cord. Instead, they cause damage when pieces of vertebrae tear into cord tissue or press down on the nerve parts that carry signals.
Symptoms and Causes
Any trauma that pulls, compresses, pushes sideways or cuts your spinal cord may cause SCI. Penetration of a foreign object, such as bone or metal, into the spinal cord can cause serious damage, as can pressure from bleeding, swelling and fluid accumulation.
A complete spinal cord injury is defined by total or near-total loss of motor function and sensation below the area of injury. However, even in a complete injury, the spinal cord is almost never completely cut in half. Doctors use the term "complete" to describe a large amount of damage to the spinal cord.
Weakness, poor coordination or paralysis, particularly below the level of the injury
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Prevention Strategies
Implementing programs that reduce or eliminate behavioral and environmental risk factors, and provide behavioral and environmental protective factors.
Continuing to support collaborative prevention efforts in areas such as transportation, falls, and firearms.
The Foundation for Spinal Cord Injury Prevention, Care & Cure (FSCIPCC) is a non-profit educational group dedicated to the prevention, care and cure of spinal cord injuries through public awareness, education and funding research. Founded by its current Chairman Ronald R.
How does spinal cord injury pain develop?
The spinal cord and brain together comprise the Central Nervous System (CNS). The spinal cord is responsible for the body's movement and sensation. Once injured, it does not repair itself. The master link between our brains and our bodies, the spinal cord contains millions of individual nerve fibers in a highly organized weave. Nerve cells direct impulses from the brain to specific muscles in the body.
Is there any treatment?
Improved emergency care for people with spinal cord injuries and aggressive treatment and rehabilitation can minimize damage to the nervous system and even restore limited abilities. Respiratory complications are often an indication of the severity of spinal cord injury About one-third of those with injury to the neck area will need help with breathing and require respiratory support.
Emergency actions
Urgent medical attention is critical to minimizing the long-term effects of any head or neck trauma. So treatment for a spinal cord injury often begins at the scene of the accident.
More than Physical Therapy
Besides a loss of sensation or motor functioning, individuals with SCI also experience other changes. For example, they may have bowel and/or bladder dysfunction. Sexual functioning is frequently disrupted or lost with SCI..
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