Complete spinal cord injury
When a person suffers an injury to their spinal cord, the result is often paralysis. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that transmit messages between the brain and the body. It’s usually found in the middle of the back. A spinal cord injury can have many different effects on the patient.
There are two main types of spinal cord injuries, incomplete and complete. An incomplete injury means that the nerves that carry messages are intact, but the person loses some muscle function or feeling below the level of the injury.
A spinal cord injury is a devastating condition that can interfere with a person’s daily life. However, there are things you can do to make the recovery process easier. First, you need to find a treatment that will help you cope with the long-term effects. Afterward, you may need to attend a rehabilitation program. This will teach you how to exercise areas of the body that are unaffected by the injury, which will ensure that you maintain full range of motion in the joints.
During the first few weeks after an SCI, a person may experience some improvement. However, this is usually just temporary. They may develop spasticity and develop unstable blood pressure. Eventually, they may develop pulmonary edema or respiratory failure. In addition, they may develop chronic pain. If you have a serious SCI, it’s important to get counseling and support. You can also take advantage of physical therapy, which teaches you how to perform exercises in the home.
Physical therapy is especially important in the treatment of a complete spinal cord injury. Besides helping you reduce joint pain and promote circulation, the exercises you learn are meant to maintain the body’s full range of motion. By exercising, you can prevent secondary complications from developing. Eventually, you may need to use a mobility aid to do certain tasks.
While a spinal cord injury is difficult to deal with, there are treatments that are proven effective. For instance, a program called epidural spinal cord stimulation is shown to improve the walking ability of patients with chronic motor complete spinal cord injury. Additionally, a device known as a universal cuff helps to shift weight on the body. These innovative treatments are still in development, but there is a great deal of promise for their future use.
Treatment of a complete spinal cord injury starts with managing blood pressure and maintaining hemodynamic stability. Other measures include surgery and medicines. Depending on where the injury is, you may need traction and braces. After these procedures are performed, you should have a trained caregiver help you move your body.
Your doctor can diagnose the type of injury you have by conducting a neurological examination, using imaging tests such as CT and MRI scans. He or she will check for sensation and movement below the injury level, and may even use X-rays.
During your first year after the injury, you may have pressure ulcers, which are painful, ulcerated patches on the skin. Pressure ulcers will increase in frequency and severity over the next several years. Although they are temporary, they can be a very dangerous condition.
