Question 1

how do stretch reflexes find a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Reflexes=levels: Stretch reflexes in the arms and legs can all be connected mostly to 1 or 2 spinal cord levels above the injury level reflexes will be normal.  Depending on the age and location of the injury reflexes below the injury will either be missing early on or stronger than normal later.  Also helpful to diagnosis is that left and right sides may be different from each other.

Question 2

how does a hyperactive stretch reflex (due to spinal cord injury) result in clonus?

Accepted Answer

Brakes are released: The quick answer: the brain/spinal cord send electrical fibers to control the muscles. When the fibers are severed, the muscles "do their own thing", unregulated.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/197920-causes-of-clonus/.

Question 3

could exuberant knee reflex be a symptom of spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Nerves originating from the brain suppress reflexes to a degree.  With certain spinal cord injuries, this suppressive effect is interrupted, and reflexes can be very brisk as a result.

Question 4

how is a spinal cord injury typically diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Multiple ways: A thorough history, physical examination, and review of the appropriate imaging studies can lead to a diagnosis of spinal cord injury.  Sometimes further nerve testing and spinal fluid sampling may be necessary.

Question 5

anyone know what is a severed spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord injury: A spinal cord injury where the spinal cord was completely cut in two such that the bottom part can no longer communicate with the top part. This is the most severe form of spinal cord injury.

Question 6

can there be visual symptoms of a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Well not really: Of course you can have injury only to your cord
but usually since there is a very heavily muscled and ligamentous and bony structures surrounding your cord - they can be injured as well.  Ask yoru physician if you have an associated injuries.

Question 7

what does it mean to have an acute spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Nerve damage: An acute spinal cord injury refers to nerve damage involving the spinal cord-- this is the large bundle of nerves that carries impulses to the arms, legs, and trunk for muscle control, as well as relays sensory information from the same areas to the brain for feeling pain, temperature, & other sensations. Cord injury impairs these functions.  Severity depends on the extent & location of the injury.

Question 8

what are the major symptoms following a spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

See answer below: There is a broad variety of different spinal cord injuries depending on the severity and location of the injury and the list of symptoms is even broader and depends on the specific injury type. Resulting symptoms can be loss of motor control and sensation in two or four limbs, neurogenic bladder and bowel and the list goes on...

Question 9

what kinds of symptoms does someone with a spinal cord injury have?

Accepted Answer

Paralysis and more: Symptoms of spinal cord injury include: partial or complete paralysis of muscles below the level of injury, loss of sensation below the injury level, and a change in function of the bowel and bladder.  Most spinal cord injuries also result in spasticity of the muscles (unless the injury was low in the lumbar spine), accompanied by changes in blood pressure regulation and temperature regulation.

Question 10

for a spinal cord injury, would you need to be in a wheelchair? if so, how long?

Accepted Answer

Can&#x27;t tell, ask doc: It is impossible to even guess without more information about the nature of the injury, its severity, and which part of the spine was injured. The patient&#x27;s doctors are by far the best to answer this.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

How do stretch reflexes find a spinal cord injury

A member asked:

How do stretch reflexes find a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

How does a hyperactive stretch reflex (due to spinal cord injury) result in clonus?

A member asked:

Could exuberant knee reflex be a symptom of spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

How is a spinal cord injury typically diagnosed?

A member asked:

Anyone know what is a severed spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

Can there be visual symptoms of a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What does it mean to have an acute spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What are the major symptoms following a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What kinds of symptoms does someone with a spinal cord injury have?

A member asked:

For a spinal cord injury, would you need to be in a wheelchair? if so, how long?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?