Spinal Injuries (Traumatic)

These arise from damage or trauma to the spinal cord which results in loss or impairment of function and/or feeling.
Paraplegia refers to the loss of function in two limbs;  usually the legs.  Quadriplegia and Tetrapleglegia refer to functional loss of arms and legs and usually includes the trunk. 
Injuries can be complete or incomplete and can include conditions such as Brown Sequard Syndrome, Central Cord Syndrome and Anterior Cord Syndrome.

Nontraumatic conditions such as Transverse Myelitis, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Lou Gehrig’s Disease and others have similar impairments and share much of the information in these links.

Key Points:

1. Significant injury to the spinal cord has far reaching adverse consequences for multiple functions of the body.
2. Severance of the cord means permanent damage. There is no reliable recovery, however scientific medical advances are being made daily.
3. Thousands of people are living fulfilling lives with all levels of spinal injury. Many have become parents & have normal life-spans.
4. Leading a healthy lifestyle can help to avoid or minimise problems which can arise from long term immobility.