Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is the result of damage to any portion of the spinal cord or the nerves at the base of the spine. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve fibers and tissue which lies within spine forming the brain’s connection to the body.  

Damage to any part of the spinal cord can impact sensory, motor, and reflex capabilities if the brain is unable to send information past the location of the injury. The higher the injury occurs, the more severe the damage. The level of completeness can also impact severity though no two people have the same prognosis for a spinal cord injury.

Most people are familiar with the basic function of the spinal cord—how it acts as a relay that carries signals from the brain to the rest of the nervous system. This bundle of nerves is protected by the spinal column, which many confuse for the spinal cord itself because of how the two are talked about almost interchangeably.

In fact, when referencing spinal cord injuries, what usually gets referenced is the specific vertebrae of the spinal column where the injury occurred. One reason for this is that since the spinal column is clearly segmented (and the spinal cord resides inside the column), it’s easier to identify injury locations by referencing the vertebrae injured.

An estimated 12,500 spinal cord injuries occur in the U.S. every year, leaving the injured people, their friends, and their family, to cope with the aftermath of the catastrophe. For many, navigating the challenges of the health care system can feel a bit like going to medical school. Suddenly you're learning a veritable cornucopia of new terms, and may be spending endless hours Googling spinal cord anatomy to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.

An educated patient is better equipped to advocate for his or her needs and interests. An education in spinal cord anatomy helps you understand what your doctor is saying, ask intelligent questions, and detect medical errors before they endanger your health.

The cervical spine is located at the very top of the spinal column. The seven vertebral levels within this region, which are classified as C1-C7 from the top down, form the human neck. There is an additional cervical-level injury known as a C8 injury which relates to damage to the spinal cord root that exits the spinal column between vertebrae C7 and T1.

The spinal cord running through the cervical region of the spine is identified by the level of the vertebra in which it’s contained. Cervical spinal cord injuries are the most severe of all spinal cord injuries and may affect one or both sides of the body.

The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae levels. The are located at the middle of the spine, between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. Thoracic vertebrae are considered as those that have a rib. These levels are classified as T1 - T12. Thoracic spinal cord injuries are severe, however rarely cause death. Thoracic spinal cord injuries may affect one or both sides of the body, and although the long-term prognosis is good, early treatment is still critical. 

Patients with thoracic spinal cord injuries live very independent lives. T1 is the highest level in the spine where the damage will leave the patient with use of their hands. Thoracic spinal cord injuries are serious enough to require immediate medical treatment.

The lumbar spine is located in the lower back below the cervical and thoracic sections of the spine. It consists of five vertebrae known as L1 - L5. These lumbar vertebrae contain spinal cord tissue and nerves which control communication between the brain and the legs. Damage to the lumbar spinal cord subsequently affects the hips and groin area, and may impact the lower abdominal muscles and thigh flexion as well. 

Lumbar spinal cord damage may be complete or incomplete and may affect one or both sides of the body. As is the case with other spinal cord injuries, the completeness of the spinal cord damage will determine how severe the injury and symptoms will be for the patient.

The sacrum is the triangle-shaped bone at the end of the spine between the lumbar spine and the tailbone. The sacral spine consists of five segments, S1 - S5, that together affect nerve communication to the lower portion of the body. 

It is important to understand that the spinal cord does not extend beyond the lumbar spine. L2 is the lowest vertebral segment that contains spinal cord. After that point, nerve roots exit each of the remaining vertebral levels beyond the spinal cord.

Damage to the spine at the sacrum levels affects the nerve roots as follows:

• S1 affects the hips and groin area
• S2 affects the back of the thighs
• S3 affects the medial buttock area
• S4 & S5 affect the perineal area

Being told that you or a loved one will be paralyzed can be a terrifying experience. This is made even more so by the fact that, in the popular imagination, paralysis means a complete loss of movement. In reality, paralysis is a continuum, and the type of paralysis a person experiences immediately after a spinal cord injury (SCI) may change with time, rehabilitation, and diligent medical treatment.

Paralysis is the partial or full loss of movement, usually in response to an injury or illness. In the case of spinal cord injuries, two forms of a paralysis are most common.

A spinal cord injury is the result of damage to any portion of the spinal cord or the nerves at the base of the spine. The spinal cord is a bundle of nerve fibers and tissue which lies within spine forming the brain’s connection to the body. Damage to any part of the spinal cord can impact sensory, motor, and reflex capabilities if the brain is unable to send information past the location of the injury. The higher the injury occurs, the more severe the damage. The level of completeness can also impact severity though no two people have the same prognosis for a spinal cord injury.

Monoplegia is a form of paralysis that affects just one limb. It is almost always the product of cerebral palsy, though a limited number of other medical conditions may cause monoplegia. Because monoplegia is rare, it is still poorly understood, and research into ideal treatments, the progression of the disease, and best practices for assisting patients is still in its infancy.

Monoplegia is paralysis limited to a single limb—usually an arm. Occasionally, the paralysis is even further limited, to just a single muscle.

Diplegia refers to symmetrical paralysis, usually affecting either the arms or the legs. It's the most common cause of paralysis in children, but can affect people of any age. Unlike other forms of paralysis, diplegia is highly unpredictable, and may get better, worse, or radically change with time.

Diplegia is a symptom, not an illness unto itself. It can affect any symmetrical area of the body, including both sides of the face, both legs, or both arms. The severity varies quite a bit, and may change between sides. 

Paraplegia, sometimes called partial paralysis, is form of paralysis in which function is substantially impeded from the waist down. Most people with paraplegia have perfectly healthy legs. Instead, the problem resides in either the brain or the spinal cord, which cannot send or receive signals to the lower body due to an injury or disease.

Like other forms of paralysis, paraplegia substantially varies from one person to another. 

Hemiplegia is a form of paralysis that affects just one side of the body, often just one arm and one leg, but occasionally with symptoms extending partially into the torso. A related condition, hemiparesis, is significant loss of strength and mobility on one side of the body, but without full paralysis. Some people with hemiplegia develop the condition after a bout of hemiparesis. Others may alternate between times of hemiparesis and hemiplegia.

Quadriplegia, also known as tetraplegia, is thusly named because it affects all four limbs, plus the torso (quad originates from the Latin word for four). Most people with tetraplegia have significant paralysis below the neck, and many are completely unable to move. This form of paralysis is inevitably the product of damage high in the spinal cord, usually in the cervical spine between C1-C7. The higher the injury is, the more extensive the damage will be, and very high spinal cord injuries are often immediately fatal.

Spinal cord injuries change lives, families, and sometimes even entire communities. When you lose the ability to fully control your own body, you’ll need to lean on others for support. The people who once relied on you may not find themselves floundering as they struggle to support you.

There’s no shame in this need for support, but it does have practical ramifications. You’ll need assistance accessing medical care, addressing insurance issues, and advocating for your rights at work, school, and in your community. A spinal cord injury lawyer is your best ally in this struggle. Here’s why you need to consider hiring one.

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries signals from the brain to the body, and back to the brain. When the spinal cord is damaged, nerve impulses cannot communicate below the area where the damage has occurred. This results in loss of motor and/or sensory function and even paralysis. Damage to any part of the spinal cord is very serious and medical professionals should treat the patient quickly. 

Spinal cord injuries occur for many different reasons. Depending upon the severity of the injury, patient’s symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe enough to cause death.

Spinal cord injuries have a variety of symptoms. The severity and location of the spinal cord injury directly relate to the symptoms a patient will experience. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury do not always show up right away. Some spinal cord injury symptoms are delayed while others are present immediately upon injury.

Symptoms are experienced at the point of and below the affected level of the spine, and may be mild, moderate, or life-threatening.

The prognosis for spinal cord injuries varies depending on the severity of the injury. There is always hope of recovering some function with spinal cord injuries. The completeness and location of the injury will determine the prognosis.

There are two levels of completeness in spinal cord injuries which impact the outlook:

• Complete spinal cord injuries - are those in which the signals between the brain and the spinal cord have been compromised. This results in a loss of motor and sensory function below the level of injury.
• Incomplete spinal cord injuries - are those where the signals from the brain to the spinal cord have not been compromised completely. In these situations, the patient has some motor and sensory function.

A spinal cord injury dramatically alters everything about your existence. Whether and how you work, leisure activities, your ability to hold your child, your relationships, your body image, and your fundamental sense of self may all change. Appropriate mental care after a spinal cord injury is vital for helping you manage your rapidly changing life.

A spinal cord injury affects virtually every system of your body, and every area of your life. You will have to rethink how you go about even the most mundane activities -- using the bathroom, traveling to and from work, eating dinner with your family, using the phone, using the computer, and so much more.

At least 265,000 Americans are living with spinal cord injuries, with between 11,000 and 12,500 new cases each year. If you've recently experienced a spinal cord injury, you may be overwhelmed by the dizzying array of information your doctors, loved ones, and other caregivers have offered you. Ultimately, what you really want to know is what your life is going to be like after your spinal cord injury.

The truth is that no one, not even your doctor, can answer that with absolute certainty. Spinal cord injuries are unpredictable. Some survivors with catastrophic injuries spontaneously walk. Others undergo years of physical therapy just to move their fingers. 

Fighting for your country is a noble, brave, and commendable action. But it goes without question that these courageous efforts are also incredibly dangerous and can at times lead to life-changing injuries.

Because of their sacrifice for our country, veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) have access to a multitude of specific resources that are exclusive to them. Veteran resources include support for the psychological and physical issues connected with their injury, both of which are critical to recovery.

No matter what the severity is, any injury to the brain or spinal cord is bound to have repercussions. In some cases, this may extend from overwhelming medical costs and lost wages -- often more than $1 million in the first year (and roughly $185,000 each subsequent year) -- to the affected patient having to readjust to an entirely new way of life just to cope with their condition.

However, oftentimes the reported 250,000 individuals currently facing the life-changing reality of a brain or spinal cord injury can find relief in the eyes of the law.

Spinal cord injuries change lives, families, and sometimes even entire communities. When you lose the ability to fully control your own body, you’ll need to lean on others for support. The people who once relied on you may not find themselves floundering as they struggle to support you.

There’s no shame in this need for support, but it does have practical ramifications. You’ll need assistance accessing medical care, addressing insurance issues, and advocating for your rights at work, school, and in your community. A spinal cord injury lawyer is your best ally in this struggle. Here’s why you need to consider hiring one.

No matter the cause of a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, the impact on the life of the patient and their family can be devastating. Together, the brain and the spinal cord form the body’s central nervous system, arguably making them two of the most important parts of the human body.

Any amount of damage to these critical areas can easily put a strain on one's quality of life, but more often than not, leads to something much worse such as paralysis or even death.

Injuries not only have the potential of leaving a devastating physical impact, but they can also cause a tremendous financial strain, in some cases costing upwards of $1 million in the first year.

There are many cases in which the injured person is not at fault. A lawyer will be able to review the details of the case and identify whether someone else is in fact liable, but you can start the process by getting educated on the basics.

It’s not uncommon for people to think of personal injury claims as the domain of people looking for a quick pay check after a minor injury. The reality is something altogether different. A personal injury, especially a traumatic one such as a brain or spinal cord injury, can cost you anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars to millions, and may even cause a permanent reduction in your loss of income. If someone else was at fault for your injury, you shouldn't have to pay for their mistake. Here's how to file a personal injury claim.

Experiencing a serious spinal cord injury is simply a terrifying possibility for most people, and yet sadly, approximately 276,000 individuals in the U.S. are currently facing the devastating aftermath of just such an event. Along with the brain, the spinal cord comprises a key part of the body’s central nervous system, which governs the body’s activities via nerve tissue, sending messages throughout the body.

Any number of causes could result in a debilitating injury to this critical part of the body, but when responsibility falls on a particular person or organization, the time comes to act.