Spinal Cord Injuries: Causes and Symptoms

August 27, 2011

Spinal Cord Injuries: Causes and Symptoms

A spinal cord injury can quickly change a person's life forever. Often the result of a car accident, these injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged, leading to a loss of function, including but not limited to mobility or feeling. Today, approximately 450,000 people in the United States are affected by spinal cord injuries.

Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury can be caused by trauma or disease. While auto accidents account for nearly 40 percent of all injuries according to the Mayo Clinic, acts of violence (gunshot and knife wounds), falls and sports injuries can also be causes.

Diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis and arthritis also contribute to the number of spinal cord injuries. Other studies have cited alcohol use as increasing the likelihood of a spinal cord injury, finding that 1 in 4 accidents resulting in spinal cord trauma cite alcohol as a factor.

Many people assume that the spinal cord is severed in this type of injury, but it can also occur due to damage but not a severing of the cord. Any injury or illness that damages the bundle of nerves running from the waist to the brain can cause this very serious condition.

Symptoms

The symptoms, or effects, of this type of injury depend largely on the type and location of the injury. Spinal cord injuries can be either complete or incomplete. Complete injuries lead to no function in the nerves below the injury, including no sensation or bodily movement in the affected body part, affecting both sides of the body equally. Incomplete injuries mean that some movement and feeling is present, but it is less than it was before the injury.

The level of the spine that is injured will also impact how severe the limitations are. The higher up on the spine the injury is, the more limited mobility will be. Quadriplegics, or individuals who have no control below the neck, are people suffering an injury to the neck. Those who retain use of their trunk and hands typically have an injury somewhere near the waist.

Article provided by The Lawrence Firm, PSC
Visit us at http://www.lawrencefirm.com