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How doctors treat spinal cord injuries

On Behalf of | Dec 15, 2020 | Injuries

In a car accident, it is possible to suffer from a spinal cord injury. Your spinal cord is a major part of your nervous system and while it has protection from the spine, it is not invulnerable to injury.

Your spinal cord controls your body and how you experience sensation.

Examples of spinal cord injuries

The effects of spinal cord injuries depend heavily on the severity. You may have discomfort or you could have complete paralysis. Spinal cord injuries can affect your lifestyle and make it impossible to provide for yourself or your family. Common spinal cord injuries include disk injuries, fractures, spinal cord tears and impingement on nerve roots.

Treatment options for spinal cord injuries

When you have a spinal cord injury, doctors will most likely admit you to the intensive care unit, explains The Mayo Clinic. The main treatments used for spinal cord injury include:

  • Immobilization
  • Surgery
  • Medication
  • Experimental treatment

Doctors may use traction to treat the injury to stabilize you or they may provide a neck collar. For some patients, a special bed to keep you immobilized is a necessity. Surgery is a common treatment method to remove any foreign objects, bone fragments, fractured vertebrae or herniated discs from the spine. You may also have to undergo surgery to stabilize your spine.

Doctors have many different experimental treatments that they may try on patients. One treatment, for instance, involves lowering your body temperature to prevent inflammation.

After treatment, you may require medication to manage pain, improve control and to help with muscle spasticity. Most people undergo rehabilitation following a spinal cord injury.

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