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Learn more about your Condition
We provide you with relevant information about your condition for educational purposes only. Patients should consult his or her physician at Pain & Spine before making any treatment decisions.
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Pain & Spinal
Conditions and Diseases
To further help our patients, we present to you the most current and reliable information about pain and spinal conditions and diseases. We also offer Back pain advice and information about therapies that can relieve the pain, exercises that can stabilize the back, and doctors who will treat your specific condition. We would also like to keep you up to date on the latest
information available for the treatment of these conditions
and diseases.
For treatment Information Click here
 
Spinal Cord
Injury (SCI)
Effects from Spinal Cord Injury
The physical and emotional consequences from a spinal cord
injury (SCI) can be devastating. Loss of spinal cord function
can affect activities that are autonomous (e.g. breathing) as
well as thought-driven actions (e.g. driving). Both motor and
sensory functions may be lost.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA),
not every spinal cord injury results from a motor vehicle
accident (42%), violence (24%), falling (22%), or sports (8%).
Occasionally SCIs are caused by diseases such as polio.
Spinal cord injuries are usually described using the
following terms:
Paraparesis: A slight degree of paralysis affecting the
lower extremities
Paraplegia: Complete paralysis of both lower
extremities and usually the lower trunk. The upper extremities
are not involved.
Quadriparesis: Partial paralysis of all four limbs
(arms, legs)
Quadriplegia (or Tetraplegia): Complete paralysis of
all four limbs
Other terms used to describe neural dysfunction include:
Paresis: Partial paralysis
Paralysis: Partial or complete loss of motor function
Paresthesias: Abnormal sensation such as burning or
tingling
The spinal cord does not have to be severed for function to be
lost. Most people with spinal cord dysfunction present with
the cord intact. Cord injuries usually fall into one of the
following categories:
 Contusions, or
bruising of the spinal cord
Compression
injuries that place pressure on the cord
Lacerations or
tearing (e.g., from a bullet)
Central Cord
Syndrome
Complete severing
(rare) W
When injury occurs and for a time period following, the spinal
cord swells. Loss of function occurs below the level of the
injury and may be permanent or temporary. Much depends on the
severity of the injury.
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Spinal Region |
Location |
Area Effected |
Spinal Levels |
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Cervical |
Neck |
Neck, arms, hands |
C1 thru C7 |
|
Thoracic |
Chest |
Torso, parts of the arms |
T1 thru T12 |
|
Lumbar |
Low Back |
Hips, legs |
T12 thru L5 |
|
Sacral |
Pelvis |
Groin, toes, parts of the leg |
S1 thru S5 |
Symptoms may include loss of motor
function, sensation or proprioception. The nerves responsible
for these functions transmit their messages through the
muscles, tendons, joints and other organs.
Destruction of sensory nerve fibers may lead to loss of
sensation such as touch, pressure, and temperature. Reflexes
may become exaggerated, bladder and bowel control may be lost,
even the ability to breath normally may be compromised
For treatment information, Click here
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