The body’s central nervous system directs every aspect of movement. From the lungs to the toes, the brain and spinal cord work together to sustain body functions. When an injury impacts one or both of these directors, it may result in disaster.
A spinal cord injury may turn into a nuisance or alter the course of a person’s significantly. Depending on the accident and the damage to the cord, a person may end up in constant pain or with a loss of function. Take a look at some facts about spinal cord injury compiled by some of our experts.
The spine’s inability to heal
Unlike other body systems, the spinal cord’s composition bars it from self-recovery. In many other injuries, the body’s defense and repair process triggers when damage occurs. While the system may not fully restore function to an injured body part, it may improve it to a degree. The spinal cord’s inability to receive this same response contributes to the likelihood that damage results in permanent disability.
The location of the damage dictates the extent of disability
The spinal cord is a mix of tissue and nerves that run from the brain down the entire back. However, each part of the cord takes responsibility for a specific body function. Thus, when a spot suffers a blow, it may damage the mobility of a single body part. Depending on the severity of the injury to the cord, it may restrict any function below the impact. Paralysis results when trauma renders everything from the point of damage and below, unable to send and receive neural transmissions.
We aim to inform the public about the seriousness of a spinal cord injury. For further information on this and other catastrophic injuries, follow this link to our website.