Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal column runs from the base of the brain to the coccyx and helps to keep the body in alignment.

­When it is out of alignment for any number of reasons then it will give different parts of our body problems including our vital organs. Through the center of this spinal column runs another column of nerves. This column of nerves connects the brain to other nerves in the body. Its job is to transmit signals to and from the brain. There are a bunch of important secondary nerves that branch off from the spinal column.

All of these branches constantly transmit signals to various parts of the body. The brain is the main control panel for the spinal cord. Vision if you can, a major highway and with the exits off this highway going to other areas. If there is a car accident at exit 7 then cars will not be able to pass and traffic can build up, so that everything below exit 7 will be affected until the accident is cleared. Sometimes this accident can be permanent such as a severed spinal cord. This would cause paralysis for the rest of ones life.

There are numerous reasons for a spinal cord injury. It can be blunt trauma to the back, a compression fracture, or whip lash. As we age, many times our bones become brittle or weak. The vertebrae in the spinal column are no acceptation. These deteriorating vertebrae can cause damage to the spinal cord running inside of it. Someone could have a nervous system disorder. A spinal injury can come about with a herniated disc or degenerative disc disease.

Whenever there is damage to the spinal cord nerves it can create other problems in our body such as numbness and or tingling in the hands and feet. Spinal cord injuries can cause swelling of the surrounding tissue and severe pain. Not only can a spinal cord injury cause paralysis below the impact of injury but if it is in the right area it can cause incontinence of bowel and bladder. Depending on the location and severity of the spinal cord injury it can cause death. This is why an assessment with trained professionals and x-rays as soon as possible at a trauma center is vitally important for ones recovery.

The best way to help prevent a spinal cord injury is prevention, such as wearing seat belts in a moving car. Wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle, bicycle, or skateboard is an excellent preventative measure against a spinal cord injury. When doing extreme sports always think about the head and spinal cord and know that prevention should be the number one route to take.­


last visit: Spinal Cord Injuries | The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago | Types of traumatic brain injury | Treatment of a mini stroke | Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
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