Symptoms of Spinal Cord Injury – What to Watch For

Spinal cord injuries can be one of the scariest injuries you can have. It’s strange how something you take for granted every day, because it works, suddenly becomes the bane of your existence when it doesn’t work. Having any damage to your spinal cord, even the very smallest one, can be really tough. 

Here you’ll learn about how they can come about, some common symptoms you should be on the lookout for, what you can try to determine in your own body and how you can deal with things after an injury in a way that suits your lifestyle. So, without further ado, it’s time to dive in. 

How Spinal Cord Injuries Happen

The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves running from your brainstem down your back. It’s protected by bones (your spine) but if the spine takes a hard hit, those bones or nearby tissue can press on or even sever the cord. That’s when symptoms start, which can be super painful, unfortunately. 

One common cause is a car accident, where a sudden jolt or direct impact damages the spinal area. You see, the spinal cord truly is meant to be protected but when you’re in such a big accident, sometimes the body can’t protect you from every single thing. However, you shouldn’t have to sit in the pain and with the bills alone. You see, Mighty can suggest the average settlement for a car accident back and neck injury if you simply get in touch with them, as this will allow you to at least have some financial help from the person whose fault it was. 

Other causes might include sports injuries, violent trauma or falls, especially from heights. In some cases, a spinal cord injury can also come from diseases or conditions like tumors or infections.

Common Symptoms to Be Aware Of

Symptoms depend largely on where along the spinal cord the injury occurs. An injury higher up on the cord tends to affect more of the body. Lower injuries might only impact your legs or certain functions.

One of the most well-known signs of spinal cord injury is sudden paralysis or weakness. You might find it hard or impossible to move your arms, legs or both.

• Quadriplegia (or tetraplegia): When all four limbs are affected, usually from damage in the neck area.
• Paraplegia: When the lower half of the body is affected, usually due to injuries lower in the spine.

It’s not always full paralysis. You might just notice weakness, heaviness or reduced coordination in your limbs. Another one is losing the sensations in your body. You may lose feeling in parts of your body. This includes not being able to sense touch, heat or cold or pain or pressure. This numbness can affect just one side or spread to both sides of the body. Sometimes it starts small and grows as swelling around the spinal cord increases.

Another fascinating one is the bladder and bowel movement. A spinal cord injury often interrupts the normal signals between your brain and your bladder or bowels. You may find you:

• Can’t tell when you need to go
• Have trouble starting or stopping
• Lose control entirely

These issues aren’t just uncomfortable; they can also lead to infections or other complications if not managed properly.

On the other hand, some people experience muscle spasms or jerky movements that they can’t control. Reflexes may become unusually strong or trigger unexpectedly. This can be a sign that the spinal cord is sending mixed messages to muscles. Or if the injury is high on your spine, particularly around the neck area, you might notice difficulty breathing. That’s because the nerves that control your diaphragm and chest muscles are affected.

Recognizing the Signs Early

The faster you spot the symptoms, the quicker you can get medical help. In situations like a car accident, someone may not realize right away that their spinal cord is injured, especially if adrenaline is high or other injuries are more obvious. That’s why it’s important that you try to stay as still as you can after an accident, so that the professionals can handle you with care. 

If you or someone else is involved in an accident and shows these signs:

• Inability to move parts of the body
• Unusual tingling or numbness
• Loss of control over bodily functions
• Neck or back pain that doesn’t fade

It’s important not to move them unnecessarily. Movement can worsen the injury. Emergency services should be called right away so trained responders can safely handle the situation.

What Happens After the Injury

Once a spinal cord injury is confirmed, treatment focuses on reducing further damage and improving recovery. This might include:

• Surgery to stabilize the spine or remove pressure
• Medications to reduce swelling and inflammation
• Physical therapy to regain as much movement and strength as possible
• Assistive devices for mobility and daily tasks

Recovery can be slow and results vary. Some people regain function, while others face long-term disability. The most important thing is having a support system and a medical team that understands spinal injuries. 

You must also be patient with yourself. Try to give yourself as much grace as possible moving through this new phase of your time, as spinal cord injuries are unfortunately very serious and take a lot of rehabilitation to get you anywhere near where you once were.