Understanding Spinal Cord Injury People with Spinal Cord Injury What is it? The spinal cord is the nerve centre of our body, spanning about 45cm that runs down the middle of the back to the waist. It contains a bundle of nerves that carry messages back and forth from the brain to the body. What happens? When a spinal cord injury occurs, it disrupts the sensation and movement signals between the body and brain. This result in a temporary or permanent loss of function, paralysis and loss of sensation.
Spinal cord injuries can be complete or incomplete. A complete injury means you are paralysed below the injury while an incomplete injury allows you to have some movement and sensation below the injury. What are the effect? • Loss of movement. • Loss of sensation. • Loss of bowel and/or bladder control. • Pain or intense stinging sensation. • Excessive reflex actions or spasms. • Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility.