Spinal Cord Injury Day: Everything to Know About Spinal Cord Injury

 

Spinal Cord Injury Overview

The spinal cord is located between a column of vertebrae and meninges (layers or tissue). Electronic signals promote the exchange of messages between the brain and other parts of the body. In most cases, a spinal cord injury results from a blow or trauma to the vertebrae. In some cases, an injury to the spinal cord may either spit or sever it.

 

Spinal Cord Injury: What Is It? How Does It Affect the Body?

A spinal cord injury is an injury to the spinal cord. Due to it, the body may lose many essential functions. That’s because such an injury can bring the exchange of messages between the brain and the other parts of the body to a grinding halt. Any damage to the spinal cord, depending on whether it is in the dorsal spinal (the middle portion of the spine) or any other part of the spine, can affect the body in the following ways:

• The rate of heartbeat
• Breathing
• The bodily functions related to the bladder and bowel
• Sensations
• Reflexes
• The movement of muscles

 

How is the injury of the back different from that of the spinal cord?

Some people have a misconception that a spinal cord injury is the same as a back injury. However, they are different from each other. Usually, a back injury damages the soft tissues and the bone. It does not cause any damage to the spinal cord. 

 

If the internal space in the backbone is smaller than normal, it can also lead to spinal canal stenosis. Alongside the spinal cord, this condition also puts pressure on the spinal nerves. In most cases, this condition occurs either in the neck or lower back regions.

 

Sometimes some individuals live under the impression that they have back pain when they have back spinal cord pain. The latter usually lasts for a longer duration. If you experience pain that persists for longer, it is usually a good idea to see your doctor at the earliest.

 

After a thorough examination, your doctor will tell you whether or not you have spinal cord pain. The major benefit of visiting your doctor or healthcare professional is that you can undergo the right treatment immediately after your diagnosis. The quicker your treatment begins, the better will be your chances of a quick recovery.

 

Different spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries can be either partial or full. Based on this detail, your doctor will let you know if it is complete or partial. These are the two different types of spinal cord injuries. Here’s what it is all about

 

• Complete: If a spinal cord injury is complete, it causes a total loss of function or paralysis. The type of paralysis on both sides of the body will depend on the type of injury. It can either affect the lower half (paraplegia) or the four limbs of the body (quadriplegia).
• Incomplete: If the nature of a spinal cord injury is partial or incomplete, it may either affect one side of the body or both sides. Some functions may remain in both these parts. As a result, the brain and the other parts of the body can communicate with each other.

 

Spinal cord injury: symptoms

If you pick up a spinal cord injury, its symptoms will depend on its type and the location in which you have it. Its spinal cord injury symptoms include the following:

• Loss of control of the bladder and the bowel
• Pressure or severe pain in the back or neck region
• Weakened arms and legs
• Breathing problem (difficulty in breathing)
• Lumps in the spinal region
• Significant loss of sensation in the leg or the arm region

 

How does a spinal cord injury happen?

From an accident to surgery-related complications, an injury to the spinal cord can result from many factors. These include the ones given below.

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Surgical complications
• Sports injuries
• Gunshot wounds
• Falls

 

How is a spinal cord injury diagnosed?

When you visit your doctor with a spinal cord injury, they will prioritize it to determine whether it is affecting your breathing. To determine it, they will measure the rate of heartbeat and check the oxygen level in the body. In addition, they will also check the functioning of the nerves. Along with the motor function, they will also check the sensory function of your body.

 

To further diagnose your injury in the spinal cord and gain insight into it, your doctor may recommend the following tests:

• X-ray to check for any dislocation
• MRI to check soft tissues or the spinal cord
• CT scan to monitor any blood vessel damage, blood clots or to detect broken bones
• Electromyogram (EMG) to detect the electrical activity at the nerve cell or muscular level

 

Treatment of a spinal cord injury

The immediate treatment of a spinal cord injury is surgery. It will help you recover from an injury in the spinal cord region due to damaged tissue, blood clots, and broken bones.

 

Corticosteroid is an effective medication for an injury in the spinal cord region, especially if given in the first eight hours after the injury. It helps minimize inflammation, enhance blood flow, and preserve nerve function.

 

The long-term treatment of the injury in the spinal cord region is aimed at attaining the following goals:

• Restoring the lost nerve function
• Minimizing a current complication or any possible future complication 
• Improving the quality of life

 

Takeaway

A spinal cord injury can be either partial or complete. It can be either general or serious, to the point of altering the rate of heartbeat or causing breathing problems. If you experience any of the above symptoms, you must see your doctor at your earliest convenience. An early diagnosis and treatment can help you recover quickly.