SPINAL CORD INJURIES ARE SERIOUS,
LET US HELP.

There is currently no known cure for spinal cord injuries, meaning that as of right now, a person who sustains a spinal cord injury that results in complete or incomplete paralysis will not regain function, and nerves will not be repaired. However, there is promising research being done that could change the way that doctors treat spinal cord injuries in the future, as well as patients’ lives.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that current research focuses on four aspects of spinal cord repair. These aspects are:

• Neuroprotection – Neuroprotection research is being explored to protect both healthy and compromised cells from (further) damage as a result of the spinal cord injury.

• Regeneration – One of the more complex areas of research is regeneration, which focuses on actually regrowing and repairing axons and nerves that have been damaged, which could in turn restore muscle function and sensation.

• Cell replacement – Rather than repairing damaged nerves, some researchers believe that there is the potential to replace damaged nerve cells.

• Retraining of CNS (central nervous system) circuits and plasticity – Finally, the retraining of CNS circuits and plasticity focuses on restoring body functions depending upon the extent of injury, or extent of repair/replacement if above treatment options are successful.

It should be noted that currently, this research is exploratory; there is no known cure or treatment for spinal cord injuries. In April of 2016, however, a medical report revealed that for the first time, stem cells had been used to promote regeneration in the severed spinal cords of rats. The study has promising hopes for treatment in humans, although clinical treatments involving humans have not been conducted.

Paralysis refers to the loss of ability to move in a certain area of the body, typically a limb or the face. In some cases, paralysis can also mean the loss of sensation, such as touch or temperature, in an area, too. There are three common causes of paralysis: spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Because the spinal cord – which is comprised of nerves that send messages between the brain and the rest of the body – is encased in the spinal column, which runs the length of the back, an injury to the spine is the most common cause of paralysis.

Paralysis can be complete or incomplete, meaning that a person either retains some sensation and movement ability, or loses these abilities completely. Paralysis can also be generalized or localized, referring to paralysis that affects a large area of the body vs. paralysis that affects a specific muscle or limb. Finally, there are also a number of ways to characterize paralysis, including:

• Quadriplegia/tetraplegia. This refers to paralysis of all four limbs, as well as the muscles within the chest and trunk.

• Paraplegia. Paraplegia is the paralysis of two of the same limbs, i.e. two legs. Often times, the muscles surrounding the pelvis are also paralyzed.

• Monoplegia. Monoplegia is paralysis of one limb, such as a single leg or single arm.

• Hemiplegia. Hemi is a prefix meaning “half’; a person who is a hemiplegia is paralyzed on the right half or left half of their body.
• Triplegia. Finally, triplegia is the paralysis of three limbs – both legs and either the right or the left arm. 

Most people who suffer a spinal cord injury lose sensation and motor abilities in two to four of their limbs, leading to the terms paraplegia and quadriplegia. “Plegia” is a suffix that denotes some kind of paralysis, but does not speak to the extent of paralysis. For example, a paraplegic or quadriplegic could be unable to move their limbs, but still retain some sensation.

“Para” derives from the word for “pair” or “two like parts,” and refers to a spinal cord injury where a person loses motor function and sensation (either completely or incompletely) in both of their legs. The area above the injury site, however, remains unharmed, and the arms are unaffected.

“Quad,” on the other hand, means “four.” When a person is a quadriplegic, they are paralyzed from the neck down, and are unable to use either arm or either leg as a result. Due to the site of injury, quadriplegics are also unable to breathe on their own because the muscles in the chest and lungs are impaired, requiring the use of a mechanical machine for breathing. Eating and talking may also be compromised. Another word for quadriplegia is tetraplegia, which also means four.

It is also possible to a triplegic, with “tri” meaning three. When a person is a triplegic, they are unable to use both legs, and also lose motor abilities and sensation in either their right or their left arm, but not both. This is usually the case when a patient suffers from an incomplete spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injuries are typically classified into two categories: complete and incomplete. The two terms refer to the level of severity of the injury, with a complete injury being the more devastating injury type.

• Complete spinal cord injuries. It is important to note that the location of the spinal cord injury dictates which parts of the body will be affected, losing sensation and motor abilities. In a complete spinal cord injury, there is a complete and total loss of sensation and movement – both voluntary and involuntary – below the point of injury. This is more common when the spinal cord is crunched or severed, although bruising and stretching can also result in a complete spinal cord injury in some cases.

• Incomplete spinal cord injuries. The second type of injury is an incomplete spinal cord injury. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, the brain is still able to send messages to the parts of the body below the area of injury, but the channel for sending messages is impaired. As a result, a person retains some movement abilities and some sensation, although both may be very minor. For example, a person may still be able to slightly wiggle their toes if they have an incomplete spinal cord injury, as well as feel pain, touch, heat, and other sensations.

Each spinal cord injury is very different, and two people could have a spinal cord injury in the same location that has very different effects on sensation and motor ability. In some cases, sensations that initially seem completely lost will return, as the loss is attributed to the body undergoing trauma rather than permanent nerve or axon damage.

Anyone can become the victim of a spinal cord injury, especially because the majority of spinal cord injuries are the result of trauma, such as force placed on the spinal column during a car accident. That being said, there are some risk factors that increase a person’s chances of sustaining a spinal cord injury. These include–

• Having certain health conditions. Certain health conditions increase the risk of a spinal cord injury, such as cancer, degenerative diseases, osteoporosis, or arthritis.

• Being male. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), males account for about 80 percent of new spinal cord injuries in the United States. Across the globe, the ratio of male to female spinal cord injuries is at least 2:1.

• Being a young adult or an old adult. Research shows that those most likely to sustain a spinal cord injury are those between 16-30 years of age, as well as those older than 65.

• Taking physical risks. Because a spinal cord injury is most often caused by a traumatic event, those who take more physical risks have a higher risk of injury. Diving into shallow waters, playing sports, participating in adrenaline-raising activities (i.e. hang gliding), and the like increase the risk. Wearing the proper equipment for such activities, such as a helmet or sports equipment, reduces the risk of serious injury.

Currently, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, which means that simply being in a car slightly increases a person’s risk of being in an accident resulting in a spinal cord injury.

A spinal cord injury is one of the most serious injury types, rendering the patient totally or partially paralyzed. Sadly, there is currently no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord, although scientists are working on a cure. While there is no cure or way to reverse damage to the spinal cord and restore a person’s motor functions and sensations, there are treatment options that are useful for helping individuals maintain quality of life and prevent against further injury.

After a spinal cord injury has been initially treated and further damage is unlikely, a patient will likely begin rehabilitation. During the rehabilitation process, psychologists, nurses, doctors, physical therapists, and other health professionals work with a patient to re-develop fine motor skills that have not been completely lost, learn new skills, and learn to cope with the injury. There are also medications that can be used to control discomfort and pain, and help with muscle spasms – a common side effect of a spinal cord injury. While rehabilitation and medication are very helpful, it is important to note that, again, there is no cure for a spinal cord injury.

There are some experimental treatments that are currently being explored to promote nerve regeneration and combat inflammation. Whether or not these experimental treatments will lead to groundbreaking new discoveries, and a potential cure, is unknown.
Living with a spinal cord injury is very difficult, but not impossible. There are numerous new technologies and resources available to help those affected by a spinal cord injury maintain the highest quality of life as possible.

Spinal cord injuries are one of the most devastating injury types, leaving affected parties with limited mobility, and sometimes, complete paralysis. Spinal cord injuries can be acute or non-acute. Acute injuries are the result of trauma; non-acute injuries are the result of health problems or other health-related complications.

Acute/Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Causes

The following lists some of the most common causes of an acute/traumatic spinal cord injury:

• Vehicle crash (currently the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center);
• Fall;
• Violent act; and
• Recreational or sports activities.

The above list is not inclusive; anytime the spinal column is impacted with a large amount of force, the spinal cord is at risk of injury. It should be noted that alcohol use plays a role in about 25 percent of spinal cord injuries.

Non-acute Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries

Some spinal cord injuries occur as a result of health or degenerative condition rather than as a result of trauma. These conditions include:

• Arthritis;
• Inflammation;
• Infections;
• Disk degeneration; or
• Cancer.

Again, the list is not inclusive; there are other health conditions that could lead to a spinal cord injury or inflammation of the spinal cord.
The majority of spinal cord injuries are caused by acute trauma. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that across the globe, 90 percent of spinal cord injuries are acute. The prevalence of non-acute spinal cord injuries, unfortunately, is increasing.

Spinal cord injuries are one of the most terrible injury types, leaving affected patients permanently partially or completely paralyzed from the area of the spinal cord injury downwards. While spinal cord injuries are relatively uncommon, there are thousands of people in the United States who are currently living with spinal cord injuries. Consider the following statistics about spinal cord injuries, providing by the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC).  

• Between approximately 250,000 and 500,000 people per year suffer a spinal cord injury worldwide.
• In the United States, the incidence rate for spinal cord injuries is approximately 54 cases per million, or about 17,000 new cases per year.
• In the United States, the number of people who were alive as of 2016 who were living with a spinal cord injuries was between 243,000 and and 347,000 people.
• Across the world, males are more likely to sustain a spinal cord injury when compared to women, at a ratio of at least 2:1. Injuries are most common for males between the ages of 20 and 29, and after the age of 70. In the United States, males account for eight out of every 10 new spinal cord injury cases.
• Throughout the world, 90 percent of new spinal cord injury cases are caused by traumatic incidents, such as a car crash or fall. The WHO reports that the number of non-traumatic spinal cord injury cases is growing.

Spinal cord injuries are most often characterized by a loss in sensation and motor function – including both voluntary and involuntary movements – from the site of the injury downwards. However, these are not the only symptoms that are associated with a spinal cord injury. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an acute spinal cord injury may also be characterized by:

• Trouble breathing;
• Digestive problems;
• Loss of bladder and bowel control;
• Sexual dysfunction;
• Spasms of the muscles;
• Changes to blood pressure and heart rate; and
• Weakness, tingling, or loss of feeling in the limbs or trunk of the body.

Each spinal cord injury is different; some patients may have all of the symptoms above, whereas others may have none. Some symptoms may improve with rehabilitation, while some symptoms may affect a person for the remainder of their life.

As stated above, in addition the listed symptoms, the biggest effect of a spinal cord injury is permanent paralysis. The paralysis may be complete or incomplete – in a complete injury, sensation and motor ability are completely loss from the site of the injury downwards; in an incomplete injury, some sensation or motor abilities may be retained, but they are significantly impaired. Loss of sensation and motor abilities can occur in both legs, both legs and a single arm, or all four limbs and the chest. There is currently no cure for a spinal cord injury, although treatment options are constantly being explored.

The central nervous system, which sends messages throughout your body and allows for movement, is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord. When injury to the spinal cord occurs, the process of relaying information from the brain to the rest of the body is disrupted. Spinal cord injuries are typically divided into two categories: complete and incomplete.

• Complete spinal cord injury. When a spinal cord injury occurs, motor function is disrupted in the part of the body that is below the point of injury. When that injury is complete, the body loses all function below the point of injury, including sensation and voluntary and involuntary movement. In other words, the affected person is completely paralyzed from the site of the injury downwards.

• Incomplete spinal cord injury. In an incomplete spinal cord injury, some level of function below the injury site is retained. This might be characterized by some sensation or minor ability to move, or different levels of sensation/motor ability in the separate sides of the body.

In addition two the two types of spinal cord injuries described above, spinal cord injuries are also classified into three subtypes based on the loss of motor function. These are:

• Triplegia. “Tri” means three, and a triplegia spinal cord injury is characterized by the loss of function in one arm and both legs.

• Paraplegia. Meaning two alike, or a pair, paraplegia refers to an injury where the victim losses sensation and motor function in two parts, usually both legs.

• Quadriplegia. Quadriplegia is the most tragic type of spinal cord injury, and refers to an injury where the patient losses sensation and function in all four limbs.

The spinal cord is a collection of nerves that runs from the brain to the tailbone. The job of the spinal cord is to relay information from the brain to other parts of the body, allowing for voluntary and involuntary movements in the body.

While the spinal cord is one of the most well-protected systems in the body, protected by the spinal column which starts with the cervical spine and ends with the coccygeal, it can be injured. If injury to this delicate system occurs, the effects can be tragic.

A spinal cord injury refers to an injury in which the spinal column (the vertebrae and bones protecting the spinal cord) are impacted to the point that the spinal cord is vulnerable, and it too is impacted. When trauma to the spinal cord occurs, all areas below the point of injury in the spinal cord will be impacted, with areas of the body above the point of injury being unaffected. Permanent partial or total paralysis of the areas of the body below the injury site is the common result. The extent of the injury is what determine the degree of paralysis.

In order for injury to the spinal cord to occur, a great amount of force must be applied. This is most common in car accidents, pedestrian accidents, or bicycle or motorcycle accidents. Falls from heights can also result in a spinal cord injury. Once injury to the spinal cord occurs, there are very few treatment options, and doctors have not yet discovered a way to heal spinal cord injuries.

The majority of the functions of the body, such as walking, picking up an object, or even going to the bathroom, are controlled by the central nervous system. The central nervous system is comprised of two parts: the spinal cord and the brain.

The brain is the decision-making party in the central nervous system, deciding what it wants the body to do. When the brain makes a decision – such as to stretch one’s legs, for example – it sends this message to the legs via the spinal cord. In addition to making decisions, the brain also collects and processes information from other parts of the body. For example, if the eyes see a danger, they send this information to the brain, which then tells the body what to do. As such, the central nervous system controls all voluntary movement – like choosing to stretch the legs – as well as all involuntary movements, such as blinking or reflexes.

The central nervous system is very delicate, and so the body has taken precautions to protect it; it is encased within the spinal column, which consists of hard vertebrae that help to defend it from injury. The spinal cord itself is comprised of nerves that carry the messages from the brain to other parts of the body. If the spinal cord itself is impacted, this information channel can be disrupted, resulting in partial or complete paralysis. This damage is permanent, as the spinal cord and the central nervous system are not capable of self-repair after an injury, and scientists have not yet found a cure for spinal cord injuries.