After a catastrophic accident, you could face life-changing injuries. Some of the most life-altering injuries are spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent changes to your sensation, bodily functions and strength.
Mayo Clinic describes the methods doctors use to diagnose spinal cord injuries.
Types of spinal cord injuries
If you suffer a spinal cord injury, there is a high likelihood that it will affect your ability to control your limbs. How it affects you depends on the severity of the injury and where the injury took place along the spinal cord.
Spinal cord injuries have two classifications. They are either complete or incomplete. In a complete injury, you lose all of your function below the injury. If you have some function below the injury site, then you have an incomplete injury.
Symptoms of spinal cord injuries
When paralysis occurs, tetraplegia means that your arms, trunk, legs, pelvic organs and hands suffered an effect from the injury. In paraplegia, all or part of your legs, trunk and pelvic organs experienced an effect. If you were in an accident, signs of a spinal cord injury include extreme pain and pressure in your neck, back or head. You may feel weak, numb or lose control of your bladder or bowels.
After an accident, you require immediate medical attention if you suspect any damage to your spinal cord. Sometimes, serious spinal cord injuries do not have obvious signs at first. The injury can become worse if you wait. The time between the injury and when you have medical attention can determine your recovery.
