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Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

A cervical spinal cord injury is the most serious of all cord damage conditions. Many cervical cord injuries will produce a quadriplegia condition, which can greatly reduce the functionality of any affected patient. As is the case with every spinal cord injury, the higher the level of cord damage, the worse the symptomatic profile will typically be.

Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Facts

Complete spinal cord injury will rob the patient of all feeling and motor function below the affected vertebral level. This is the case when the spinal cord is severed or completely destroyed by compression or other traumatic or developmental process. Partial paralysis conditions exist when the cervical cord is damaged, but some neurological function still remains intact. Patients with a partial cord injury might still have sensation or some motor function and generally have a better chance of regaining some lost neurological signal. Cervical cord injuries will generally affect all four limbs, as well as the torso and internal bodily processes.

Upper Spinal Cord Injury Effects

Most patients with a cervical cord injury lose the ability to walk. Patients who injure the cord above C7 will typically lose function in their arms, as well. Patients who damage the spinal cord at the highest cervical levels might lose autonomic functionality, including the ability to breathe on their own. These patients will require intensive support systems just to stay alive. General symptoms of all cervical cord injuries include lost bowel and bladder function, sexual dysfunction, constipation, poor circulation and an increased risk for pneumonia and septicemia. Some patients suffer serious internal organ effects which can reduce their life expectancies drastically.

Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Advice

Cervical cord damage is a tremendous burden to bear. The vast and dire effects of the condition make normal everyday life a tiresome task for millions of patients. There have been great improvements in quadriplegic care, but there still is no cure for permanent cord damage. Stem cell research remains in development while religious and governmental groups argue its ethical implications.

Patients stricken with cervical cord damage must do everything in their power to maintain good general health. Reduced immune function and poor circulation make these individuals targets for a host of problematic conditions which can create serious disease or even death. It is crucial to remain vigilant for any health complication which might occur, since early treatment is vital to preserve life and function. For additional information about remaining healthy despite having a serious spinal cord injury, contact your doctor today.
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury to Back Pain Home 8/20/08