Causes of spinal cord injuries include motor vehicle accidents (44%), acts of violence (24%), falls (22%), sports (two-thirds of these are from diving accidents) (8%), and other (2%). Statistics differ somewhat in other countries - in Canada and western Europe, injuries due to violence are rare, while in developing countries, violence is even more common. Statistics show that the summer is the worst time for spinal cord injuries, with July having the highest incidence. They happen more frequently on weekends and at nights. Most people who get spinal cord injuries are male (82%) and the median age at the time of injury is 31.7 years. About 10,000 Americans suffer SCI every year. Approximately 250,000 Americans are living with some form of SCI. Learn more about the anatomy of the spine, how spinal injuries occur, and the level of the spinal cord injury. Men make up at least eighty percent of all cases. Alcohol plays a big role in SCI, accounting for at least twenty five percent of cases. Preexisting spinal disease can cause some people to be more susceptible to getting SCI. These include: There are several types of sci or spinal cord injury treatment. Rehabilitation hospitals provide several different … Continue reading →

A spinal cord injury (SCI) refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease.[1] Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence.[2][3] Spinal cord injuries are described at various levels of "incomplete", which can vary from having no effect on the patient to a "complete" injury which means a total loss of function. Treatment of spinal cord injuries starts with restraining the spine and controlling inflammation to prevent further damage. The actual treatment can vary widely depending on the location and extent of the injury. In many cases, spinal cord injuries require substantial physical therapy and rehabilitation, especially if the patient's injury interferes with activities of daily life. Spinal cord injuries have many causes, but are typically associated with major trauma from motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports injuries, and violence. Research into treatments for spinal cord injuries includes controlled hypothermia and stem cells, though many treatments have not been studied thoroughly and very little new research has been implemented in standard care. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) first published an international classification of spinal cord injury in 1982, … Continue reading →

Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.A.D.A.M. Spinal cord trauma can be caused by a number of injuries to the spine, including: A minor injury can cause spinal cordinjury if the spine is weakened (such as from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis) or if the spinal canal protecting the spinal cord has become too narrow (spinal stenosis) due to the normal aging process. Direct injury, such as cuts, can occur to the spinal cord,especially if the bones or the disks have been weakened. Fragments of bone (for example, from broken vertebrae, which are the spine bones) or fragments of metal (such as from a traffic accident or gunshot) can cut or damage the spinal cord. Direct damage can also occur if the spinal cord is pulled, pressed sideways, or compressed. This may occur if the head, neck, or back are twisted abnormally during an accident or intense chiropractic manipulation. Bleeding, fluid buildup, and swelling can occur inside or outside the spinal cord (but within the spinal canal). Thebuildup of blood or fluid canpress onthe spinal cord and … Continue reading →

Welcome to Apparelyzed, a free spinal cord injury peer support website run by individuals with a spinal cord injury. Here you will find information on spinal cord injuries which has been submitted, and is discussed between the spinal cord injury community. Please use the links on the left of this page to navigate the website, and the section index below to navigate this page. We hope you find the website useful, and consider joining in on some of the discussions in the spinal cord injury forum. Spinal Cord Injury Homepage Quick Links What is a Spinal Cord Injury ? A spinal cord injury (SCI) is generally defined as damage or trauma to the spinal cord that results in a loss or impaired function. The paralysis from the damaged spinal cord may affect mobility, sensation, bladder function, bowel function or sexual function. When a person has been paralysed due to a spinal cord injury, paraplegic and quadriplegic (tetraplegic) are terms used to describe the resultant medical condition. The classification of spinal cord injury depends on the spinal cord injury level and severity of a persons paralysis, and how it affects their limbs. The spinal cord injury level is usually referred to … Continue reading →

Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of your back. It carries signals back and forth between your body and your brain. A spinal cord injury disrupts the signals. Spinal cord injuries usually begin with a blow that fractures or dislocates your vertebrae, the bone disks that make up your spine. Most injuries don't cut through your spinal cord. Instead, they cause damage when pieces of vertebrae tear into cord tissue or press down on the nerve parts that carry signals. Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. With a complete spinal cord injury, the cord can't send signals below the level of the injury. As a result, you are paralyzed below of injury. With an incomplete injury, you have some movement and sensation below the injury. A spinal cord injury is a medical emergency. Immediate treatment can reduce long-term effects. Treatments may include medicines, braces or traction to stabilize the spine, and surgery. Later treatment usually includes medicines and rehabilitation therapy. Mobility aids and assistive devices may help you to get around and do some daily tasks. NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Read more here: Spinal Cord Injuries: MedlinePlus … Continue reading →

Scientists continue to investigate new ways to better understand and treat spinal cord injuries. Much of this research is supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Other NIH components, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs, other Federal agencies, research institutions, and voluntary health organizations, also fund and conduct basic to clinical research related to improvement of function in paralyzed individuals. Many hospitals have developed specialized centers for spinal cord injury care. Many of these bring together spinal cord injury researchers from a variety of disciplines for partnerships regarding basic and clinical research, clinical care, and knowledge translation. Current research is focused on advancing our understanding of four key principles of spinal cord repair: Neuroprotectionprotecting surviving nerve cells from further damage Regenerationstimulating the regrowth of axons and targeting their connections appropriately Cell replacementreplacing damaged nerve or glial cells Retraining CNS circuits and plasticity to restore body functions A spinal cord injury is complex. Repairing it has to take into account all of the different kinds of damage that occur during and after the injury. Because the molecular and cellular environment of the spinal cord is constantly … Continue reading →