Spinal Cord Injury Treatment and Medicine

Spinal cord injury is the term used to describe damage to the long central nerve that sits inside the spinal column. Messages transmitted from the brain through this nerve trunk are responsible for muscle movement throughout the body, and intrusion upon its function can result in partial or total paralysis. Treatment for this injury involves stabilization of the spinal cord, followed by hospital care and rehabilitation.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injury

• Spinal cord injury is a medical emergency that must be treated as soon as possible. It can be triggered by a number of situations, including falls, sports injuries, vehicle accidents and intentional bodily assault. In most cases, damage is caused when portions of the bones surrounding the spinal cord (the vertebrae) are forced into the cord and degrade the strength of the nerve impulses directed through it. The cord can also be cut, or compressed by bleeding or fluid buildup. If you sustain spinal cord damage, your primary symptoms will be loss of feeling and lack of body control beginning at the point of injury and extending down toward your feet. These symptoms may be partial or total, depending on the amount of damage done to your spinal cord.

Stabilizing the Spinal Cord

• The immediate concern in treatment is stabilizing your condition and relieving any continued intrusion on your spinal cord. Emergency personnel will immobilize you through use of a backboard and a rigid neck collar, then check to see that you are breathing normally and not going into shock. At the hospital, doctors will test your nerve functions and get a more precise picture of your situation. To reduce any swelling and spinal compression, you will likely be given a dose of a corticosteroid such as methylprednisolone as soon as possible. This will hopefully diminish the extent of any permanent damage, and in those cases where injury to the spinal cord is not severe it may help reverse temporary paralysis.

  If there are bone fragments or other material intruding upon your spinal cord, or if bleeding or swelling are still present, you will need surgery. Depending on a number of factors including your doctors' preference, this may be done as soon as possible or after several days when your overall condition has stabilized. If your spinal cord is free from immediate danger, your doctors will align your body in a way that promotes healing and diminishes potential complications. This may include temporary immobilization of your spine through traction, or immobilization of your skull.

Hospital Care and Rehabilitation

• You may be in the hospital for several weeks as your treatment progresses. During this time you will begin physical therapy for your paralyzed limbs and learn how to deal with any bladder or bowel dysfunction. You will also receive care to minimize the effects of prolonged immobility, and medication to address any lingering concerns such as muscles spasms.

  Once out of the hospital, you will continue rehabilitation to retain as much body function as possible. Some degree of recovery is possible, and most commonly occurs within a few months following injury.