Living With Spinal Cord Injury

Often a spinal cord injury (SCI) is caused by a blow to the spine, resulting in broken or dislocated bones of the spine (vertebrae.) The vertebrae bruise or tear the spinal cord, damaging nerve cells.
When the nerve cells are damaged, messages cannot travel back and forth between the brain and the rest of the body. This causes a complete or partial loss of movement (paralysis) and feeling.
Sometimes the spinal cord is damaged by infection, bleeding into the space around the spinal cord,spinal stenosis, or a birth defect, such as spina bifida.
At the hospital
A person with a potential SCI is taken to an emergency department and then to an intensive care unit. The first priority is stabilizing bloodpressure and lung function, as well as the spine, to prevent further damage. When a spinal cord injury is caused by a serious accident, treatment for other injuries is often needed.
The following tests may be done right away to help find out the extent of the injury. They may also be done routinely throughout and after you leave rehabilitation (rehab).
An ultrasound of the kidneys checks your bladder function. This is done every 1 to 2 years.
A spinal X-ray monitors your spine's condition. Your doctor lets you know how often this is done—usually monthly for the first 3 to 6 months.
Computed tomography scan (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which provide detailed pictures of the spine, are done as needed.
A bone density test measures the minerals (such as calcium) in your bones using a special X-ray, a CT scan, or ultrasound.
A few days after the injury, your doctor will ask you questions. Also, he or she will test not only the strength of key muscles but also your response to light touch and pinpricks all over your body.