DR. CORA LIM
MEDICAL INSIDER
Spinal Cord Injury
(Part 3)
This is our 3 rd issue of the topic Spinal Cord Injury. Our
initial discussions of the subject matter tackled the
common causes, classifications, levels, symptoms,
complications, treatment, and prognosis of Spinal Cord
Injury.
After the Spinal Cord Injury, what? This question could
be answered by finding out the location of the injury on
the spinal cord. The location will determine what part of
the body is affected and how severe the symptoms are.
Right after a spinal cord injury, your spine may be in
shock. This causes loss or decrease in feeling, muscle
movement, and reflexes.
If we suspect that a person has a spinal injury, we have
to call the emergency phone for emergency medical
help. In the meantime, we have to keep the person still.
We also have to put rolled sheets or heavy towels on
both sides of the neck or hold the head and neck to
prevent movement. We have to avoid moving the head
or neck.
We also have to remember that there are four types of
spinal cord injury: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral.
Medical studies will tell us that the “spinal cord is
surrounded by rings of bone called vertebra. These
bones constitute the spinal column (back bones). In
general, the higher in the spinal column the injury
occurs, the more dysfunction a person will experience.
What happens to the way we walk after a spinal cord
injury? Usually, there is difficulty in following a spinal
cord injury (SCI). But people with an “incomplete” SCI
have more potential to regain walking than those with a
“complete” SCI; yet, people with both types of SCI may
have gait training included in their therapy programs.
To avoid spinal cord injury, please remember not to
drink and drive at the same time. If you drive, do it
safely. You also have to prevent accidents that will lead
to falls and take precaution when playing sports.