Conditions
Spinal Cord Injury
![Jackson, Gillette children's spinal cord injury patient during therapy.](/images/jcogs_img/cache/CCare-Headers-978x540-Jackson-Spinal_Cord_Injury_Gillette_-_28de80_-_d22092b0c6c87f1636cf1cb4e829e40bef1be378.jpg)
What Causes Spinal Cord Injury?
The most common causes of spinal injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents.
- Traumatic injuries.
- Falls.
- Sports and recreation accidents.
- Diseases, such as tumors, infections and inflammation of the spinal cord.
- Vascular syndromes.
Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms and Effects
Spinal cord injuries can lead to a number of complications and effects. Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Loss of movement (paralysis) below the injury
- Loss of sensation—including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch—below the injury
- Exaggerated reflexes or muscle spasms below the injury
- Spasticity
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Potentially life-threatening over-activity of the autonomic nervous system (autonomic dysreflexia). Autonomic dysreflexia affects body functions such as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.
- Trouble breathing, coughing or clearing mucus from the lungs
- Trouble swallowing
- Changes in sexual function and fertility