Are you experiencing…
- Paralysis
- Loss of sensation
- Loss of reflex function
- Loss of autonomic activity
- Breathing difficulty
- Loss of bowel control
- Loss of bladder control
- Pain
- Sensitivity to stimuli
- Muscle spasms
- Sexual dysfunction
In addition to a loss of sensation and motor function below the point of injury, individuals with spinal cord injuries will often experience other complications and side effects. Read more…
Function Regarding Spinal Injury
The different segments of the spinal cord have specific levels and functions. If the motion or function of a certain body part is impaired, it is possible to trace the problem back to a specific location on the spine. Read more…
Classification of Spinal Injury
The extent of injury can be described by the ASIA Impairment Scale:
A= Complete: No motor or sensory function is preserved in the sacral segments S4-S5.
B= Incomplete: Sensory but not motor function is preserved below the neurological level and includes the sacral segments S4-S5.
C= Incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurological level, and more than half of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade less than 3.
D= Incomplete: Motor function is preserved below the neurological level, and at least half of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of 3 or more.
E= Normal: Motor and sensory function is normal.
Cervical Symptoms
Cervical (neck) injuries usually result in full or partial tetraplegia (quadraplegia). Depending on the exact location of the injury, one with a spinal cord injury at the cervical level may retain some amount of function as detailed below, but are otherwise completely paralyzed.
- C3 vertebrae and above: typically lose diaphragm function and require a ventilator to breathe.
- C4: may have some use of biceps and shoulders, but weaker.
- C5: may retain the use of shoulders and biceps, but not of the wrists or hands.
- C6: generally retain some wrist control, but no hand function.
- C7 and T1: can usually straighten their arms but still may have dexterity problems with the hand and fingers. C7 is generally the level for functional independence.
Thoracic Symptoms
Injuries at the thoracic level and below result in paraplegia. The hands, arms, head and breathing are usually not affected.
- T1 to T8: most often have control of the hands, but lack control of the abdominal muscles, so control of the trunk is difficult or impossible. Effects are less severe the lower the injury.
- T9 to T12: allows good trunk and abdominal muscle control, and sitting balance is very good.
Lumbar Symptoms
The effect of injuries to the lumbar or sacral region of the spinal canal are decreased control of the legs and hips, urinary system and anus.
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