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Injury to the spine

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The spinal cord is an essential part of the body that provides support and uprightness. Spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord which in most cases is caused by trauma and not a disease like most people believe. The nature and severity of the injury can vary depending on the specific place where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged. The spine is part of the nervous system together with the brain and spinal nerves.

The spinal cord serves as the main conveyor of messages from the brain to the rest of the body. In a human body, there are so many causes of spinal cord injury. Some day to day activities such as accidents caused by vehicles, diving, falls, sports injuries, penetrations, such as gun shots or stabs, or other medical problems such as GuillainBarre, Transverse Myelitis, Tumors and Spina bifida. Diseases such as cancer or infections can be a factor that leads to spinal cord injury.

Injuries to the spinal cord can lead to a loss of feelings below the part where it’s injured. It can lead to total loss of feelings and movements in the case of a complete injury and in incomplete injuries an individual can have slight feelings or movements below the area of injury. Even though trauma is the leading cause of spine injuries, it can be caused by dislocation, rotation, axial loading, lateral bending or hyperextension of the caudaequina. An individual suffers spinal shock immediately after a spinal injury.

Spinal shock can result in loss of reflexes, movements and feelings below the point of injury. The end of the spinal shock is noticed by the return of the reflex activity signals. Spinal cord injuries can result to symptoms such as loss of muscle movements, paresis, loss of ability to feel heat, cold, pain and touch, loss of bladder functions, and difficulty in breathing, coughing or clearing of secretions from the lungs.

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