3 Min Read
Spinal cord injury damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal - often causes permanent changes in strength, sensation, and other body functions below the site of the injury. If you've recently experienced a spinal cord injury, it might seem like every aspect of your life will be affected.
Many scientists are optimistic that advances in research will someday make the 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 of Spinal cord injuries
Your ability to control your limbs after a spinal cord injury depends on two factors: the place of the injury along your spinal cord and the severity of injury to the spinal cord. The lowest normal part of your spinal cord is referred to as the neurological level of your injury. The severity of the injury is often called "completeness". Your healthcare team will perform a series of tests to determine the neurological level and completeness of your injury.
Spinal cord injuries of any kind may result in one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
-
Loss of movement.
-
Loss of 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.
Visit Manipal Hospitals and consult with our spine surgeon in Varthur Road, Bangalore if you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned symptoms.
Risk factors associated with Spinal cord injuries
Although a spinal cord injury is usually the result of an accident and can happen to anyone, certain factors may predispose you to a higher risk of sustaining a spinal cord injury, including:
-
Being male
Spinal cord injuries affect a disproportionate number of men. In fact, females account for only about 20% of traumatic spinal cord injuries in the United States.
-
Being between the ages of 16 and 30
You're most likely to suffer a traumatic spinal cord injury if you're between the ages of 16 and 30. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries for people under 65, while falls cause most injuries in older adults.
-
Engaging in risky behaviour
Diving into too-shallow water or playing sports without wearing the proper safety gear or taking proper precautions can lead to spinal cord injuries.
-
Having a bone or joint disorder
A relatively minor injury can cause a spinal cord injury if you have another disorder that affects your bones or joints, such as arthritis or osteoporosis.
Prevention from Spinal cord injuries
Following this advice may reduce your risk of a spinal cord injury:
-
Drive safely
Car crashes are one of the most common causes of spinal cord injuries. Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a car. Make sure that your children wear seat belts or use age and weight-appropriate child safety seats. To protect them from airbag injuries, children under age 12 should always ride in the back seat.
-
Check water depth before diving
Make sure you don't dive into shallow water, don't dive into a pool unless it's 9 feet or deeper, don't dive into an aboveground pool, and don't dive into any water of which you don't know the depth.
-
Prevent falls
Use a step stool with a grab bar to reach objects in high places. Add handrails along stairways. Put nonslip mats on tile floors and in the tub or shower. For young children, use safety gates to block stairs, and consider installing window guards. To know more, visit our spine care hospital in Varthur Road, Bangalore.
-
Take precautions when playing sports
Always wear the recommended safety gear. Avoid leading with your head in sports. For example, don't slide headfirst in baseball, and don't tackle using the top of your helmet in football. Use a spotter for new moves in gymnastics.
-
Don't drink and drive
Don't drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. Don't ride with a driver who's been drinking.
Consultant Spine Care
Manipal Hospitals, Varthur Road, Bangalore
Share this article on:
