Question 1

how serious is acute spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Very: It can lead to paralysis.  It needs to be managed by an expert in an appropriate setting.

Question 2

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 3

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 4

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 5

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 6

what are the symptoms following spinal cord injury?

Accepted Answer

Numbness, paralysis: Spinal cord injury affects the function of things below the site of the injury.  There is a direct relationship between the spot on the cord damaged and changes below that point.  So, the higher up the injury, the more damage is noted.  This can be leg numbness or paralysis, the same for arms and if the neck is involved, breathing may be affected.

Question 7

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 8

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 9

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 10

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...

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Spinal cord injury

A member asked:

How serious is acute spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

Can you tell me what a spinal cord injury is?

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 any way to cure a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms following 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 wheelchair transfers after a spinal cord injury?

A member asked:

What are the major symptoms following a spinal cord injury?

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?