Symptoms, Types, Treatment, And Complications Of Spinal Cord Injuries

The transmission of messages from your brain to the rest of your body is done by the spinal cord. It enables you to feel your body parts, like arms and legs, and an injury may cause you to lose this sensation.

You get a spinal cord injury when you damage your spinal cord or the nerves that run along its end. It can cause complications and affect your strength and tissues or bones near it. It can occur due to accidents, falls, some cancers, arthritis, gunshot wounds, or collisions in sports. Read this article to learn the symptoms, types, treatment and complications of spinal cord injuries.

Symptoms Of Spinal Cord Injuries

Here are some symptoms of spinal cord injuries that you should watch out for:

• You may witness weakness or decreased sensation in your arms and legs.
• There may be severe pain in your neck, back, or head
• You may have difficulty in breathing
• You may lose control over your bowel, or there may be a loss of bladder control.
• There may be a development of unusual lumps along your spine.
• You may have trouble balancing and coordination.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete and incomplete. Keep reading to learn the difference between the two.

Complete Injury

In this type of injury, your body below your spinal cord injury becomes paralyzed, or you lose complete control over your body below the site of the injury.

Incomplete Injury

In an incomplete injury, you may have some control or feeling in the injured area.

Treatment For Spinal Cord Injuries

There is no complete treatment option for a spinal cord injury to reverse the damage to your spinal cord. However, some measures can reduce the damage caused. The treatment of your injury depends upon your injury’s severity and the part which is affected. In most cases, the treatment option is surgery, and the type of surgery depends upon your injury. Many people also seek physical therapy, rehabilitation, or occupational therapy. People with spinal cord injuries should frequently visit their doctor to prevent further complications.

Complications Of Spinal Cord Injury In Your Body

A spinal cord injury can impact your health in many ways. Some of the complications that can occur throughout your life are as follows:

• You may have muscle spasms after developing spinal cord injury as it causes your muscles to contract.
• You may have trouble walking and maintaining balance.
• There can be trouble in muscle movements in the body. You may also lose movement of some body parts.
• There can be loss of bowel or bladder control in people with spinal cord injuries. You will have difficulty emptying your bladder and bowels.
• You may have trouble breathing or coughing. People with spinal cord injuries are more prone to diseases like pneumonia.
• There may be a loss of sexual function, or women may have difficulty getting pregnant.
• The chances of becoming obese increase after a spinal cord injury. This is because there are changes in your lifestyle, like difficulty in walking and doing other activities.

Difference between Spinal Cord Injury and Back Injury

Some people confuse back injury with spinal cord injury, but both are different. A back injury can affect or damage the bones or tissues in your spine but will not damage your spinal cord.

Takeaway

You should wear seatbelts in a car and wear protective gear while playing sports to lower the chances of spinal cord injuries. If you have a back injury, avoid lifting heavy objects, as it can worsen your condition or affect your spine. It can be challenging to deal with this injury, so taking help from your family and friends is advisable.