Understanding Spinal Cord Injury

By Author: David G. Harris
Total Articles: 62
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The spinal cord is a very tricky area in humans or, for that matter, any vertebrate in the planet. The spinal cord is responsible for maintaining a number of immensely crucial and delicate nerve functions within the body. As per human anatomy, it remains protected within the bony structure known as the vertebral column It is very important to ensure that the spinal cord faces minimum damage either from application of exterior force or through diseases. However, no matter how cautious one is, at some point of time or the other, this part of the body gets damaged. Spinal cord injury can occur in varying degrees and is usually considered severe, requiring urgent medical attention.


Traumatic and Non Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury:


Traumatic spinal cord injury refers to those conditions that affect the spinal cord because of application of sudden external force. Some example of traumatic spinal cord injuries can be named as:-

Gun shot or knife stabbing
Motor vehicle accidents
Sudden fall into hard surfaces, or tumbling down stair cases
Any other act of violence
...
... Injuries occurring due to physically exerting sports, etc.

Non traumatic spinal cord injury refers to those damages that are caused by diseases, and are not directly related with physically traumatic incidents. Some of them that can be mentioned are:-

Injury occurring due to arthritis
Occurrence of some form of cancer
Developing degenerative disorders
Getting exposed to spinal infections

The term ‘Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) under strict medical connotations, refer to the traumatic versions of the injury. They could be ‘complete’ or ‘incomplete’ in nature. The former (complete SCI) is responsible for numbing all functions of the body in the lower half, starting from the point where the injury had happened in the very first place. It incapacitates the patient to perform any function whatsoever, and he / she also loses the ability to control the anal sphincter. This is the most severe form of SCI and results from severe traumatic incidents, in which the patient may have escaped death by millimeters.


Incomplete SCI however, can refer to mild discomfort to severe discomfort in the patient. The latter may lose his or her ability of free movement or experience certain other forms of restrictions, but are not debilitated completely like in case of complete SCI.


Treatment for SCI:

Treatment for SCI differs with the degree of injury faced by the patient. In acute conditions, and in emergency rooms, the medical care units may have to provide thorough life support, breathing support, maintenance of complete immobilization and prevention of shock. A host of medications involving the pain relieving ones and those for rehabilitating the damaged nerve centers and decreasing inflammation is also given. Services of renowned experts like that of New Jersey Orthopedic can help alleviate spinal injuries and prevent reoccurrence of damage. Rehabilitation is a must for complete recovery, and this phase usually calls for the assistance of orthopedic doctors, nurses, physical or occupational therapists, dieticians etc. Time for recovery is also determined by the amount of damage caused.

David G. Harris is popular spinal cord injury with many years of experience. He finds interest in writing as well and has written many a health article covering diversified topics such as back pain, lower back pain
etc. To know more about him and his topics, check out http://www.spinetherapys.com/.