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Spinal Cord Injury

Damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves has the potential to cause permanent changes in sensations, strength and normal body functions. And a spinal cord injury can, thus, have severe physical, emotional, and social consequences. 

The spinal cord is responsible for transmitting messages from the brain to and from various parts of the body to the brain. In case of a spinal cord injury, the person could completely loseall sensation and movement below the site of injury.

A spinal cord injury can result from an attack, such as stabbing or a gunshot wound, auto accidents, falling from a height, and sports injuries.

Types and Symptoms

The ability to control the body and limb movements, after a spinal cord injury, depends on the area of the injury and the severity of damage. The injury can be either complete or incomplete.

Types

  • Complete: Complete loss of sensation and the ability to control movement below the site of the injury
  • Incomplete: Loss of some motor or sensory functions below the area of the injury

Paralysis from a spinal cord injury can be 2 types –

  • Tetraplegia or Quadriplegia – paralysis affects the limbs, trunk, and pelvic organs
  • Paraplegia– Loss of sensation and movement in the trunk, legs, and pelvic organs

Symptoms

A spinal cord injury may result in one or more of the following –

  • Severe pain in the head, neck or back
  • An abnormally positioned neck
  • Loss of sensation in hands or feet
  • Loss of movement
  • Difficulty balancing and walking
  • Inability to feel variation in temperature
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Spasms
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Breathing difficulties

Spinal Cord Repair with Stem Cells

While no complete spinal cord injury treatment is available yet, stem cell treatment holds the potential for repair of damaged tissues to help the paralyzed person regain some of the lost senses.

When a person with a traumatic spinal cord injury, the size, location and severity of the injury may be determined with the help of diagnostic tools like –

  • CT scan
  • X-rays
  • MRI

Autologous stem cells can be harvested from the person’s adipose tissue (fat tissue) and transplanted into the site of injury in the spinal cord. These special cells enable repair and regeneration of nerve fibres. In a complete spinal cord injury, stem cell treatment can facilitate the growth of the detached ends of the nerve fibres to allow them to join again.

This may be followed up with rehabilitation programs, such as physical therapy and exercises, along with skill-building exercises and activities to regain lost strength and mobility and improve quality of life.

To know more about stem cell treatment or therapy inNorcross, GA, call one of leading pain management clinics, Atlanta Innovative Medicine at 770-416-9995.


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