Spinal cord injury: not your ordinary back pain
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord, the major bundle of nerves that carry nerve impulses to and from the brain to the rest of the body. It results in a loss of mobility, feeling, or other bodily function. Frequent causes of SCI are trauma (such as a car accident, an act of violence, or falls) or disease (such as polio and spina bifida).The disabilities related to SCI vary greatly depending on the type and severity of the injury. Spinal cord injuries are called either complete or incomplete. A complete injury results in no function below the injury, no sensation, and no voluntary movement. An incomplete injury allows some function, sensation, and movement below the primary site of the injury. People with SCI also may have other problems, such as a bowel and bladder that don’t function right, pressure sores, and a higher chance for getting respiratory diseases. While many people living with SCI may need to change some aspect of their workplace or home to help them live and cope with their disability, many continue to lead full, productive lives.
