The Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries or SCIs include any damage to the spinal cord or nerves. These injuries can result from car accidents, slip and falls, blunt force trauma and more. When you suffer an SCI, you experience a permanent change in your sensation, movement and strength beneath the site of the injury.
MayoClinic describes the various details of a spinal cord injury.
Classifications of SCI
How your spinal cord injury affects you has everything to do with where the injury is and the severity of said injury. These injuries have classifications as complete or incomplete. A complete SCI is when you lose all sensation or movement below the injury. Incomplete is when you have some function below the injury site.
Emergency symptoms of SCI
After a fall or accident, there are some emergency signs that you suffered a spinal cord injury. Any trauma to the neck, head or back should undergo immediate medical attention. This is particularly true if you experience:
- Severe pressure or pain in the back, head or neck
- A twisted back or neck
- Numbness in your feet, hands, fingers or toes
- Weakness or paralysis
Many doctors will suspect an SCI until proven differently for the sake of the patient.
Other symptoms of SCI
For a healthcare professional to determine if you have a spinal cord injury, there are several symptoms that he or she looks for. For instance, if you experience loss of movement, sensation or bladder control, these are serious signs that your spinal cord suffered damage as a result of your injury. You may also experience stinging caused by nerve fiber damage or difficulty breathing.