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SCIs: Everything You Need to Know
- mimmii7777
- Dec 4, 2020
- 2 min read
A spinal cord injury — damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal (cauda equina) — often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation and other body functions below the site of the injury. (mayoclinic.org)
After a spinal injury, being able to move depends on the place and severity of the injury along the spinal cord. The severity of the I jury is called "completeness". It can either be "complete" --> all feeling and movement are lost below the injury or "incomplete" --> there is some feeling and movement below the affected area.
Paralysis from a spinal cord can either be:
tetraplegia--> Arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are affected by the injury.
paraplegia--> Either all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs.
Symptoms
Spinal injuries may be followed by one or more of these symptoms:
Loss of movement
Loss or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility
Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in your spinal cord
Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs
Signs to pay attention to following an accident:
Extreme back pain or pressure in your neck, head or back
Weakness, incoordination or paralysis in any part of your body
Numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your hands, fingers, feet or toes
Loss of bladder or bowel control
Difficulty with balance and walking
Impaired breathing after injury
An oddly positioned or twisted neck or back
Causes
Spinal injuries are caused by damage to the vertebrae, ligaments or disks of the spinal column or to the spinal cord itself. This may be caused by a violent blow, a knife or gunshot wound. Other spinal injuries could also be caused by arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infections or disk degeneration.
Some common causes of spinal injuries are:
Motor vehicle accidents.
Falls.
Acts of violence. (gunshots, knives)
Sports and recreation injuries.
Alcohol.
Diseases. (cancer, arthritis,etc)
Prevention
Drive safely.
Check water depth before diving.
Prevent falls.
Take precautions when playing sports.
Don't drink and drive.
Watch this informative video on spinal cord injuries:
Anyone who suffers trauma to their head or neck should seek medical help. Pone should assume they have a spinal injury unless medically proven otherwise. If you suspect someone has a spinal injury, DO NOT move them--> you may be causing permanent paralysis.
That's it for today! I hope you enjoyed this post about spinal injuries. Stay safe, until next time!
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