Today, with our present technological and medical advancements, most people survive spinal cord injuries and continue to live productive lives. This is due to the exhaustive and intensive research done by scientists during the past 50 years to find treatments and therapies for spinal cord injuries, utilizing the latest in both medical sciences and technology. With these latest developments and medical breakthroughs, spinal cord injury patients may now regain mobility, or even allow them to compete in sports, travel, work, as well as raise a family.

Examples of these breakthroughs include:

1. Wheelchairs

The latest wheelchairs that are available right can do so much more than the old, ordinary wheelchair. Aside from providing movement and comfort to the patients, these wheelchairs can help them climb stairs, or even travel through rough ground. Also, these wheelchairs have adjustable heights and with the push of a button, the seat is raised, allowing the patient to reach over high places without any assistance from another person.

2. Computer Gadgets

Robotics as well as devices powered by a computer can help these patients with their daily routines. These devices can be easily controlled by the patients themselves so they can perform everyday tasks - such as dialing phones, paying bills, making reservations, bathing, personal grooming, cleaning and cooking – with relative independence.

3. Electrical Stimulation Devices and Neural Prostheses

These are the most advanced as well as one of the most complex tools in helping patients with spinal cord injury move and function. Some of these are placed under the person’s skin to be connected to the central nervous system. Others are installed outside of the body. These neural prostheses use electrical stimulation in order to control the arms and legs allowing the person with spinal cord injury to do tasks like standing up, walking, or getting a grip. These devices are also termed as FES systems, or Functional Electrical Stimulation systems. Though there is still a lot of scientific research to be done on this, this has created quite a buzz since the late actor Christopher Reeve once used this technology to ride a bike.

As of now, research on treatments for spinal cord injury is still underway. It may take years or even decades to find a cure for this, but new technologies and innovations on the medical field advancing everyday are paving the way for faster healing and therapy. Even the promise of stem cell research gives a glitter of hope to spinal cord injury patients, as their nerve cells can be regenerated so that they can recover completely from the spinal cord injury.

How It Affects You:

1. Personal/Psychological – It is only expected for the person to primarily experience a great deal of shock and disbelief. It is a harrowing condition but many people have learned to cope with it. What you must keep in mind though is that acceptance is the first step to coping with, and eventually, recovering from the condition. It is important for the person and the family to understand that the next step to coping with the situation is to undergo treatment.

2. Family and Career – It is only understandable that family life and loved-ones will also be greatly affected by a family member’s spinal cord injury especially if he or she is the primary wage earner of the family. Furthermore, since a person with a spinal cord injury will not be able to function normally as before, it is only expected that he or she will be relying mainly on other members of the family until he or she is completely recovered from the injury. Information regarding the spinal cord injury condition is very important to the patient as well as to family members looking after the patient.

3. Relationships – Sexual and personal relationships with a partner may also be affected by the spinal cord injury. Usually, professional counseling is undertaken by the couple in order that they may be able to communicate about their sexual needs and find ways to make sure that they are fulfilled. Sometimes, one cannot have sexual intercourse with a partner anymore.

4. Daily Functioning – Fifty years ago, it would have been unimaginable for someone suffering from a spinal injury to get around without the help of others. Fortunately, times have changed. With the medical and technological advancements we have today, one can now explore new options to live a more productive life. Now, with the help of vehicles, wheelchairs, computers and other gadgets and equipments made especially for the purpose, spinal cord injury patients can now drive a vehicle, get around, and move with relative independence.

Treatment

Recovery and treatment must progress consistently. The recovery process will take months or even years, so he should slowly but surely comply with the rehabilitation process. Having a disability does not mean one cannot lead a healthy life. This is a great time to get a good diet not just for your body but for your brain as well. This will ensure that your body can build enough strength and nutrients in order to prevent complications arising from the spinal cord injury condition and to maintain regular bladder and bowel function.

Recovery from the injury itself will take time, and one should be very lucky if one can recover from spinal cord injury. It needs a lot of patience as well as the will to recover in order for treatments to work.

In the hospital, the doctors will run diagnostic tests in order to find out if you have spinal cord injury. One may be immobilized through sedation in order to prevent any more damage. If doctors discover a spinal cord injury, the patient will likely be then admitted to the ICU of the hospital or specialized treatment facility for further treatment.

Early in the treatment process, the physician will focus on treating the injury that has caused the loss of movement and bodily function below the injury location. The doctor may recommend the following options:

Medication

The doctor may prescribe Methylprednisolone or Medrol for acute spinal cord injury. This is highly effective if the person is given the medicine within 8 hours after the onset of the injury. This medication works by decreasing the inflammation at the location of the injury, thus reducing damage to the nerve fibers.

Immobilization

This can entail placing metal bracings, weights, neck collar or body harnesses on the skull in order to hold them in place. This is done to make the spine stable and aligned during the healing process.

Surgery

This may be another option in order to prevent future pain and deformation. Surgery also removes bone fragments or other objects that may be compressing the spine. There have been 2 schools of thought on the matter whether to perform it immediately or after a while and it still has yet to be resolved.

Aftercare and Rehabilitation

After the injury, the patient needs to be hospitalized for a few days or weeks. There will be rehab therapists who will assist the patient in order to regain movement and strength lost after the injury. This may last for a long time, so physical and emotional treatment can also be needed to cope up with the spinal cord injury.

The person cannot move.

The person cannot feel heat or cold, or even the surface he is touching.

The person feels pain or an intense stinging sensation. This is because the nerve fibers in the spinal cord are damaged.

The person can’t control their bowel and bladder activity.

The person has difficulty breathing, or has clear secretions from his/her lungs.

They may experience changes in sexual function, fertility and sexual sensitivity.

The person may demonstrate exaggerated reflex actions or spasms.

One can damage their spinal cord in a number of ways. Typically they are caused by accidents. Accidents are the most common causes of spinal cord injury in the United States:

Car and Motorcycle accidents

This is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. More than half of people having spinal cord injury attribute this as the cause of injury.

Violent Encounters

Gunshot wounds as well as knife wounds account for around 15% of spinal cord injuries.

Athletic activity injuries

Impact sports such as diving and very high contact sports account for around 8% of spinal cord injuries.

Falls

Accidental falls can lead to spinal cord injury and represents 22% of all causes of the injury. Elderly are especially susceptible to spinal cord injury because of a fall.

Sickness or disease

Though it is seldom that this happens, complications from arthritis, cancer and other infections can be a cause of spinal cord injuries.

One should immediately seek medical help if he/she experiences these warning signs after a head injury or an accident:

Extreme back pain in the neck, head or back

Fading in and out of consciousness

Loss of feeling or numbness on the fingers, or feet

Difficulty with walking or balance

Paralysis in any part of the body

Difficulty in breathing after the accident

Difficulty in movement and coordination with the body

Twisted neck or back

The symptoms of spinal cord injury many not appear too obvious after an accident. In fact, one may feel fine after an accident. But there may be times when the injury gradually develops as the area surrounding the spinal cord progressively swells as well as bleeds. People who have experienced a serious injury to the head or neck should be evaluated by a doctor in order to determine whether a spinal cord injury has occurred. Immediate treatment will avoid complications that may arise latter. The time from injury to treatment is critical in minimizing permanent damage to the spinal cord.