A spinal cord injury ...
- Usually begins 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
- Damage is caused when pieces of vertebrae tear into cord tissue or press down on the parts of nerves that carry signals
A spinal cord injury is either defined as complete or incomplete:
- Complete: if all feeling and motor function is lost below the neurological level
- Incomplete: if there is some motor or sensory function below the affected area
Paralysis from a spinal cord injury is referred to as:
- Tetraplegia or quadriplegia: arms, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are all affected by your spinal cord injury
- Paraplegia: paralysis affects all or part of legs, trunk and pelvic organs
Signs and Symptoms:
- Loss of movement
- Loss of sensation, including ability to feel heat, cold and touch
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
- Changes in sexual function, sensitivity and fertility
- Pain or intense stinging sensation
- Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from lungs
