What is a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

The causes of SCI may be traumatic or non-traumatic. Traumatic injury may occur from a fall, motor vehicle accident, sports injury, or some other accident. Non-traumatic injury may occur from cancer, loss of blood supply, infection, or diseases that impact the nerves of the body. There may be damage to the cord even when the vertebrae have not been broken.

When an injury to the cord occurs, messages between the brain and the body may no longer be able to travel through the affected nerves at the area of injury.

Damage to the spinal cord may affect many functions and systems of the body, including:

• Strength/ability to move (musculoskeletal)

• Ability to feel (sensation)

• Bladder function

• Bowel function

• Cause muscle spasms (spasticity)

• Digestive system (swallowing, eating)

• Respiratory system (breathing, ability to cough)

• Sexual function and fertility

• Cardiovascular (blood pressure, temperature regulation, heart rate, etc.)

• Psychological (anxiety and depression)