Personal Injury Law

What's Really Behind Spinal Cord Injuries - Causes and Effects

By Megan Roth

In 1954, the American Paraplegia Society (APS) was founded in order to advance spinal cord medicine.  The organization still works to do just that through education, information, and promotion of spinal cord research.  In our previous post we defined both paraplegia and quadriplegia, and we identified their primary cause; now, we'll given you a more in-depth look at the conditions by detailing their causes and effects.

These conditions, which are marked by paralysis (paraplegia of the lower body, quadriplegia of the lower body extending all the way up to and including the upper limbs) are similar to others in the sense that they vary from individual to individual.  Though they are often caused by traumatic injuries, either condition may also be triggered by several naturally-occuring, non-traumatic factors, including cerebral palsy, spinal tumors, scoliosis (sideways curvature of bones surrounding the spine) and spina bifida (a birth defect resulting in abnorally fused bones around the spine). 

Similar to the causes, the effects of these conditions may also vary.  Many individuals experience the loss of sensations - including sensations of pain, temperature, vibration, and position - below the injured area of the spinal cord; yet, others experience heightened sensations of pain as a result of partial damage to the nerve endings of the spinal cord.  Depending on the location and severity of the injury, certain individuals may also experience sexual dysfunction and loss of control over the bladder and the bowels.  In addition, spinal cord injuries may result in muscle spasms and exaggerated reflexes.  Sometimes, individuals suffering spinal cord injuries even experience difficulty breathing and clearing their throat or lungs.

As you may have already guessed, partial spinal cord injuries are generally not as severe as complete injuries (in which the spinal cord is completely severed).  Though both paraplegia and quadriplegia are lifelong disabilities without any known cure, there are certain rehabilitation and treatment services offered in order to lessen the effects of a spinal cord injury and help sufferers live as normal a life as possible.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on May 31, 2008 (boomark / email).