What Is a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)?
The spinal cord injury is responsible for transmitting and receiving messages from brain and other parts of the body. It is also referred to as cauda equina. When your spine is injured, your brain’s function of sending and receiving signals to other nerves in other parts located everywhere in your body is disrupted and impacted. This is what happens at the time of a spinal cord injury. The injury can be minor and temporary or serious and permanent based on different factors. A person undergoing a spinal cord injury might also be at risk of experiencing mental, emotional and social side effects.
Your central nervous system is made up of two critical components: the brain and the spinal cord. Your central nervous system may be likened to a multi lane freeway to and from your brain. It possesses a route for exiting and to the brain by the use of nerves. Your spinal cord serves as the link to your spinal nerves, which link to your peripheral nerves in turn. The peripheral nerves further spread to all component parts in your body, giving way to nerve impulses that utilize the spinal nerves to travel through.
What are the Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury?
The impact of a spinal cord injury is based on two major factors:
1. Where the injury occurs on the spinal cord.
2. The severity of the condition.
The lowest level of injury of the spinal cord not damaged after injury is known as the neurological level of injury. The injury can either be complete or incomplete depending on the amount of preserved sensation. For instance, completeness can be defined as the condition in which all the sensation and ability to control movement are lost below the spinal cord. Incompleteness is where you have some level of sensation or ability to control movement below the level of injury. Incomplete injury, on the other hand, has varying characteristics.
Loss of the sensation and movement is referred to as paralysis. A paralysis resulting from a spinal cord injury may be:
- Tetraplegia (also known as quadriplegia): This is where your arms, hands, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs are involved in your spinal cord injury.
- Paraplegia: It is your organs in the pelvis, legs, and trunk that are affected by the spinal cord injury. Your arms are not affected by this condition.
If you have a spinal cord injury, you need to have it diagnosed so that you can determine whether your injury is incomplete or complete. You need to ensure that you are diagnosed at the neurological level as well. Damage to the spinal cord could lead to the following symptoms:
- Loss of mobility.
- Loss of or alteration of sensation. This involves alteration of the capacity to appreciate heat, cold, and touch.
- Loss of control of bladder or bowel function.
- Enhanced reflex reactions or spasms.
- Sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility changes.
- Pain or intense stinging pain because of damage to the spinal cord nerve fibers.
- Difficulty breathing, cough, or trouble blowing out secretions from the lungs.
What Are The Indicators Of A Spinal Cord Injury Emergency?
Emergency symptoms following a spinal cord injury due to an accident are:
- Severe neck, head, or back pressure or back pain.
- Weakness, loss of coordination, or loss of function in one body area.
- Numbness or tingling, or loss of sensation in hands, fingers, feet, or toes.
- Loss of bladder or bowel function control.
- Impairment of gait and balance.
- Difficulty breathing after the injury.
- A twisted neck or back.
When To See a Healthcare Professional?
One should always get a medical check-up immediately if one has suffered a head or neck injury. One should always presume a spinal cord injury unless otherwise checked because a severe spinal cord injury is not always visible and could lead to more severe injuries if not diagnosed. The condition could be severe, leading to numbness or paralysis, and could need immediate treatment for quicker recovery.
If you believe that a person has a back or neck injury, do not get him to move because he might experience permanent paralysis or other complications. Call an ambulance and get the person to stay still. If possible, place heavy towels on either side of the neck or support the head and neck to minimize movement. With a first aid kit, you can prevent them from bleeding a lot and get them comfortable. You should realize that you are not moving the head or neck of the injured person because it might have fatal consequences. Make a booking today for further information and consultation on spinal cord injury.