Question 1

can you tell me what a spinal cord injury is?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord injury: Is an injury to the actual cord of portions of neurons that extend from the base of your brain down the spinal canal and send the nerves to the rest of your body from the brain. The actual injury can be numerous mechanisms, from anything from trauma to infection to infarct, severing communication of some degree from your brain to the levels below the injury.

Question 2

can there be any way to cure a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

No but lots to do!: A spinal cord injury cannot be cured but a good rehabilitation program can manage symptoms and help the person return to the most active lifestyle possible.  The activities the person will be able to do depend on what part of the spine was affected (level of injury).

Question 3

what are wheelchair transfers after a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

See answer below: Wheelchair transfers refer to transfers that a person with a spinal cord injury who is using a wheelchair must perform when going from the wheelchair to a bed, to a couch, to a car, to a shower bench, and back into the wheelchair. Sliding boards are initially used to make the transfers easier.

Question 4

how to determine what level of injury you are if you had a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Ask physician: The level of injury is determined during physical examination.  There are some nuances to it but generally speaking the level is at the part of the body where muscle control and sensation is normal.  People with complete injuries have no muscle control or sensation below the injury.  People with incomplete injuries have function and sensation that are not normal below the level of injury.

Question 5

is sciatica a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

No: Sciatica is a pain symptom of a pinched nerve in the spine.  Spinal cord injury is an actual/potential damage to the spinal cord resulting in a sensory or motor deficit.    The two are very different.  Speak with your doctor if you are concerned about either.

Question 6

what do doctors consider to be a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

As it says: It is any injury to yuor spinal cord which is centrally located in your spine.  It has multiple levels usually related to the vertebral body level.  Ask you doctor if you are unsure.

Question 7

why do you become paralyzed after a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Spinal Cord Injury: When the spinal cord, the spine is damaged, severed, cut, or crushed, the softer tissues of the cord are damaged, often permanently.  These nerves come from the brain, go the internal organs, the arms, legs, muscles, skin all over the body.  Damage is permanent, the nerves will not work, and the brain cannot feel or control the muscles, which is the definition of paralysis.

Question 8

how could you lose weight when you have a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Depends on injury: Anything that uses energy (calories) will help one lose weight, as long as he doesn't eat or drink back more calories right after the activity. Paraplegics can exercise, quadriplegics cannot. Examples: if rolling in a wheel chair, take a longer route; park a block from school and roll there with the kids; at home, skip dessert and go roll around the block instead. Join wheelchair sports and races.

Question 9

how can people with a spinal cord injury control their bowels?

Accepted Answer

Some may not: Be able to control their bowels. Depending on the level of injury and whether it is a complete or incomplete injury, a spinal cord patient may or may not be able to control their bowels. Some will get on a strict bowel regimen to help and others may need other interventions.

Question 10

what is the best medication to treat a spinal cord injury and spasticity?

Accepted Answer

4 major ones: Treating spinal cord injury is more about minimizing the amount of damage at the time of injury: Methylprednisolone may have some benefit, but studies are inconclusive. As for spasticity, four drugs are standard of care: baclofen, diazepam, tizanidine, & dantrolene. Each has benefits and drawbacks; they all come in generic. Some may require more than one drug, or the use of a drug pump device.

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Core exercises for a spinal cord injury

A member asked:

Can you tell me what a spinal cord injury is?

A member asked:

Can there be any way to cure a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What are wheelchair transfers after a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

How to determine what level of injury you are if you had a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

Is sciatica a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What do doctors consider to be a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

Why do you become paralyzed after a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

How could you lose weight when you have a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

How can people with a spinal cord injury control their bowels?

A member asked:

What is the best medication to treat a spinal cord injury and spasticity?

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