Understanding the Basics: Spinal Cord Injury

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

The spinal cord is a soft bundle of nerve fibers and associated tissue running from the base of the brain down to the lower back. It is protected by the bones of your spine. It connects your brain to all parts of your body.

The spinal cord runs through the spinal canal: the tunnel formed by holes in the bones of the spine.

Any injury that damages these nerve fibers is a spinal cord injury (SCI).

Types of SCI

A spinal cord injury can cause permanent changes in strength, sensation, and body function below the site of the injury.

The ability to function varies among SCI survivors, depending on the location and severity of the trauma.

Cervical spine injuries affect vertebrae at the top of the spinal cord. Thoracic spine injuries affect middle vertebrae, lumbar spine injuries affect low vertebrae, and sacral injuries occur at the base of the spine.

Diagnosing SCI

Spinal cord injuries are caused by a trauma to the spinal cord.

Sports injuries, falls, and violence account for some, but nearly half of all spinal cord injuries are the result of car accidents.

Signs of SCI may include:

• Severe back pain
• Pressure in the neck, head, or back
• Weakness or a sudden loss of coordination
• Numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the hands, fingers, feet, or toes
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Difficulty breathing
• Twisted or oddly-positioned neck or back

Anyone who has experienced significant trauma to the head or neck should seek immediate medical attention: the time between a spinal cord injury and treatment can significantly impact the potential for treatment.

If you suspect a spinal cord injury, do not move the patient unless it is an emergency. Wait for medical help to arrive to ensure the best outcome.

About the Author

Tom D'Amore is the founder of D'Amore Law Group and a trial attorney with over 30 years of experience representing injured people and their families across the West Coast, securing more than $325 million in recoveries. He handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, construction injuries, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse. Licensed in Oregon, Washington, and California, Tom is the only NBTA board-certified truck accident attorney in Oregon. He is a national Board of Governors member, past Executive Committee member, and past Budget and Audit Chair of the American Association for Justice, as well as past President of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an Eagle member of the Washington State Association for Justice.