Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I meet others with spinal cord injury?

SpinalResource.com can help!  Click here to meet others just like you.

What is the difference between a complete and an incomplete injury?

"Complete" and "incomplete" are the two forms of spinal cord injury. With a complete injury, damage to nerves completely interrupts signals sent from the brain to areas of the body beneath the injury. With an incomplete injury, viable neural tissue remains intact, so that only some of the brain's signals are blocked

How many people are alive today in the U.S. with SCI?

Estimates vary, but the generally accepted range is between 183,000 and 230,000 persons are alive today in the U.S. with SCI.

What are the leading causes of SCI?

Motor vehicle crashes, acts of violence, water accidents, falls, sports 

How many patients are injured each year at a particular neurologic level?

The most frequent injury level is C5, followed by C4, C6, T12, and L1. Overall about half are cervical injuries and half are either thoracic, lumbar, or sacral injuries.

Will I regain function?

The types of disability associated with SCI vary greatly depending on the severity of the injury, the segment of the spinal cord at which the injury occurs, and which nerve fibers are damaged. Most people with SCI regain some functions between a week and 6 months after injury, but the likelihood of spontaneous recovery diminishes after 6 months. Rehabilitation strategies can minimize long-term disability.

What is a spinal cord injury?

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an injury to the nerves in the spinal canal. Many SCIs occur with trauma to the vertebral column, and interfere with the spinal cord's function in relaying messages from the brain to the rest of the body. This interrupts sensory, motor, and autonomic activity below the area of the spine where the injury occured. This can cause paralysis, quadriplegia, paraplegia, and other conditions such as pressure sores. In addition to pressure sores, secondary conditions from SCI include spasticity, respiratory complications, scoliosis, and urinary tract infections

What treatments are available for spinal cord injuries?

As of yet there is no cure for SCI. Research continues to find new ways to give therapy, including surgery and drugs, to improve conditions of those who have sustained an SCI. Nerve cell transplantation, decompression surgery, complex drug therapy, nerve regeneration, and other therapies are being tested as ways to treat conditions of SCI.

Spinal Cord Injury Statistics

http://www.neure.com/Index.cfm?file=spinestat.htm

What organizations and institutions are currently placing emphasis on work that leads to an eventual cure of paralysis?

American Paralysis Association
800-225-0292     201-379-2690
APA Spinal Cord Injury Hotline
800-526-3456

Paralyzed Veterans of America
202-872-1300

New York University
http://www.med.nyu.edu/MASCIS.html
Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
800-782-6387
http://gsni.com/mia-proj

Spinal Cord Society
218-739-5252

Karolinska Institute
http://www.mic.ki.se/Diseases/c10.html

Cure Paralysis Now
http://www.cureparalysis.org/