Treatments For Spinal Cord Injury
A good place to start learning about the most common treatments for spinal cord injury is the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. These organizations have developed clinical practice guidelines to guide medical treatment and research. There are many treatments available for spinal cord injury, including surgeries, medications, and therapies. The vast quantity of information produced is mind-boggling. Unfortunately, not all of these treatments have been clinically proven to be beneficial. In fact, some may have side effects that make them not recommended.
The level of spinal cord injury that a patient has is a key factor in the treatment process. The severity of spinal cord injuries will determine whether they result in paraplegia, or loss of lower body function. An incomplete spinal cord injury may still allow the patient to move below the level of injury. Because these symptoms may also be attributed to other conditions, it's important to seek medical attention immediately. Fortunately, spinal cord injuries are relatively rare, though.
The types of disability associated with SCI are variable, and depend on the extent of the injury and the number of nerve fibers damaged. Most individuals with SCI recover some function between one week and six months after their injury. But the likelihood of full recovery decreases after the first six months. Fortunately, rehabilitation strategies are available to help people with spinal cord injuries avoid long-term disabilities. And because SCI can cause severe pain, there are several types of treatment available.
The treatments currently available for spinal cord injury include stem cell transplants and tissue engineering. These techniques use genetically modified cells and stem cells to replace damaged nerve tissue and potentially restore function. While these methods are still in their infancy, they may help those with SCIs improve their quality of life. If successful, stem cell therapy may help individuals with SCIs regain their sense of movement and sense of touch. Achieving this goal may be a long way off.
A traumatic brain injury results in the loss of sensation and function below the level of the injury. The condition is rare, but can occur in certain types of spinal cord injuries. A bullet or knife pierced through the center of the spinal cord can cause complete injury. A complete spinal cord injury may result in paralysis. This can result in a lack of bladder and bowel control, and an unnatural position of the spine. The patient may have difficulty with bowel and bladder control, and will require a medical team to determine the cause.
Depending on where the spinal cord injury occurs, a patient may suffer from symptoms of one or more of the following. A complete spinal cord injury can result in autonomic dysreflexia, which is preventable but can be fatal if it is not treated properly. The most common cause for autonomic dysreflexia is a spinal cord injury that occurs at the sixth or seventh thoracic nerve level. An eighth nerve level injury, however, may not be as severe. This post; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord elaborate more on the topic, so you may need to check it out.