Spinal Cord Injury Overview

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.

If you've recently injured your spinal cord, it might seem like every aspect of your life has been affected. You might feel the effects of your injury mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Many scientists are optimistic that advances in research will someday make repair of spinal cord injuries possible. Research studies are ongoing around the world. In the meantime, treatments and rehabilitation allow many people with spinal cord injuries to lead productive, independent lives.

Symptoms

Spinal cord injuries can cause one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• Loss of movement
• Loss of 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

Emergency signs and symptoms

Emergency signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury after an accident include:

• 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

When to see a doctor

Anyone who has significant trauma to the head or neck needs immediate medical evaluation for a spinal injury. In fact, it's safest to assume that trauma victims have a spinal injury until proved otherwise because:

• A serious spinal injury isn't always immediately obvious. If it isn't known, a more severe injury may occur.
• Numbness or paralysis can be immediate or come on gradually.
• The time between injury and treatment can be critical in determining the extent and severity of complications and the possible extent of expected recovery.

If you suspect that someone has a back or neck injury:

• Don't move the injured person — permanent paralysis and other serious complications can result
• Call 911 or your local emergency medical assistance number
• Keep the person still
• Place heavy towels on both sides of the neck or hold the head and neck to prevent them from moving until emergency care arrives
• Provide basic first aid, such as stopping bleeding and making the person comfortable, without moving the head or neck

Causes

Spinal cord injuries can result from damage to the vertebrae, ligaments, or disks of the spinal column or to the spinal cord itself.

A traumatic spinal cord injury can stem from a sudden, traumatic blow to your spine that fractures, dislocates, crushes, or compresses one or more of your vertebrae. It can also result from a gunshot or knife wound that penetrates and cuts your spinal cord.

Additional damage usually occurs over days or weeks because of bleeding, swelling, inflammation, and fluid accumulation in and around your spinal cord.

A nontraumatic spinal cord injury can be caused by arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infections, or disk degeneration of the spine.

Common causes of spinal cord injuries include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Falls
• Acts of violence
• Sports and recreation injuries
• Diseases

Risk factors

Although a spinal cord injury is usually the result of an accident and can happen to anyone, certain factors can predispose you to being at higher risk of having a spinal cord injury, including:

• Being male
• Being between the ages of 16 and 30
• Being 65 and older
• Alcohol use
• Engaging in risky behavior
• Having certain diseases

Complications

At first, changes in the way your body functions can be overwhelming. However, your rehabilitation team will help you develop tools to address the changes caused by the spinal cord injury, in addition to recommending equipment and resources to promote quality of life and independence. Areas often affected include:

• Bladder control
• Bowel control
• Pressure injuries
• Circulatory control
• Respiratory system
• Bone density
• Muscle tone
• Fitness and wellness
• Sexual health
• Pain
• Depression

Prevention

Following this advice might reduce your risk of a spinal cord injury:

• Drive safely
• Check water depth before diving
• Prevent falls
• Take precautions when playing sports
• Don't drink and drive