Spinal Cord injury: An injury to the spinal cord is called a spinal cord injury. This injury is serious. The spinal cord is divided into four parts. Each part protects the groups of nerves that control the body. The severity of a spinal cord injury depends on the area in which the injury occurred.
It is through the spinal cord that the brain works to send messages to other parts of the body. Along with this, the spinal cord also sends messages through the body to the brain.
Due to the sending of messages through the spinal cord to the brain, we are able to experience pain in the body. Through this, the parts of the body are able to move. If the injury occurs close to the neck, it can also lead to paralysis in the lower part of the body.
How common are spinal cord injuries?
Spinal cord injury is not a common disease. This can happen due to a fall or an accident. There are many reasons why a spinal cord injury can occur, such as arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infection, or wear of the spinal discs over time.
Common Symptoms of spinal cord injury?
Some of the common symptoms of spinal cord injury are as follows-
- Trouble walking
- Loss of feeling hot or cold
- inability to move arms and legs
- fainting
- headache
- back or neck pain
- trouble breathing and coughing
When should I see a doctor?
If you think someone else has had a spinal cord injury, follow the procedure below:
- Call the doctor immediately. The sooner the treatment is done, the better for the patient.
- Unless absolutely necessary, do not move the person or disturb them in any way. Do not move the person’s head or try to remove the helmet.
- If possible, encourage the person, even if they feel like they are able to get up and walk on their own.
- After reaching the hospital, the doctor himself will do a complete examination of him. They will find out where the spinal cord is injured.
If you are suffering from it, you need to approach the doctor immediately. If you are in confusion about whom to approach, visit Jaipur and fix an appointment with Dr. Himanshu Gupta (Best Neurosurgeon in Jaipur).
Causes of Spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injuries are often the result of an accident or violent incident. The following things can damage the spinal cord:
- a sudden attack, such as a knife or gunshot wound
- colliding with the ground while diving in shallow water
- Injuries to the face, head, neck, back, or chest during a car accident
- drop ceiling
- spinal cord injury during sports
Things that can increase the chances of spinal cord injury?
There can be several risk factors for a spine cord injury, such as:
- Spinal cord injuries are more fatal for men than for women. About 20 percent of women in the United States have a spinal cord injury.
- You are most likely to have a spinal cord injury between the ages of 16 and 30.
- Spinal cord injuries are most common in adults over the age of 65 due to falls.
- to do risky work. Even if you do not take good protection while playing, spinal cord injury can happen. This can also happen if you fall from a car or motorcycle.
- Even a minor injury can cause a spinal cord injury. If you have a disease like arthritis, a spinal cord injury can also happen.
How can a spinal cord injury be tested for?
- If there is a problem in feeling and walking, then the doctor examines the spinal cord injury.
- The doctor may do tests if there is a neck injury.
- Spinal cord injury test is done in case of a sudden fall. The doctor may recommend a CSF test.
Apart from this, doctors also do some tests.
- X-rays can reveal a spinal cord injury.
- CT scan is also a good way to detect this injury.
- MRI- Problems that put pressure on the spinal cord can be detected through MRI.
How to treat spinal cord injury?
- There is no treatment available to completely cure a spinal cord injury.
- Research is constantly being done to discover new treatments, including prostheses and medicines.
- These medicines can increase the ability of nerves to function.
- In the treatment of spinal cord injury, care is also taken that it does not cause further damage. Now it is being treated with the help of stem cells.
Emergency medicine
- Spinal cord injury can be treated with prompt medical attention.
- Do not move the neck if it is hurt. Simultaneously, try to stop the flow of blood.
- The doctor can make you unconscious. So that your body remains stable.
Rehabilitation
- In the initial phase, the doctor tries to improve the working capacity of your muscles. It also takes care of the way you work.
- In this, an attempt is made to make you spine cord injury dependent.
- It can take up to 6 months for the injury to heal. If the injury is deep, it can take longer.
Here we have discussed Spinal Cord injury symptoms, causes and treatment in detail and hope now there is clarity in considering it. If you are suffering from it, you need to approach the doctor immediately. If you are in confusion about whom to approach, visit Jaipur and fix an appointment with Dr. Himanshu Gupta. He is one of the best doctors to approach. Just discuss with him the problems you are facing and let him diagnose you for them.