A spinal cord injury occurs when your spinal cord or the thick bundles of nerves that send signals from your brain to the rest of your body experience damage. Depending on the level of damage, your spinal cord injury can range from minor to severe.
The symptoms of a spinal cord injury can vary depending on the level of damage to your spinal cord and which area of the spine experiences the injury. Some effects of a spinal cord injury include:
Autonomic symptoms affect involuntary processes and can result in:
Motor symptoms are caused by disruptions in how motor signals travel from your brain to your muscles and can result in:
Sensory symptoms can affect how your brain and body perceive the world around you, resulting in effects such as:
The higher up the injury is, the more of the body is affected. Since there are four sections of the spine, there are four types of spinal injuries someone can experience. These injuries can be complete (no nerve communication occurs below the injury) or incomplete (some feeling, function and muscle control are retained).
Some of the many causes of spinal cord injuries include:
There are several ways to identify which section of the spine has experienced an injury:
Depending on your injury, your doctor may wait a few days to perform testing after the swelling has decreased. They may perform a scan or conduct physical exams, including testing your muscle strength or ability to feel sensations.
Damage to the spinal cord is often permanent. However, there are ways to prevent further injury and help people live productive lives.
In the early stages of treatment, the priority is minimizing the effects of the injury, which can include immobilizing the spine and maintaining the ability to breathe for some patients. Once your condition becomes stable, you will move into pain management and rehabilitation, which can help you regain muscle function and redevelop fine motor skills.
If you’re looking for comprehensive care to aid spinal cord injury treatment, NYSI is proud to be a top option for many patients in the tri-state area. Our priority is to help you regain mobility and reduce your pain levels so you can return to your quality of life. We have years of experience helping patients recover from neck and back injuries, and we will work with you to develop a treatment plan meeting your specific needs.
