CPA Ontario

The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that runs through the vertebrae (backbones) in your spine. This nerve bundle is about 18 inches long, starting at the base of your brain and ending at your buttocks. The spinal cord acts as a superhighway between your brain and the rest of your body. Want to take a step, or wriggle a finger? The message is normally sent through the spinal cord to these body parts, in the form of nerve impulses. The highway runs in both directions: stub a toe or touch something sharp, and those pain or pressure signals speed back up to your brain faster than you can say “ow.”

An accident that causes your vertebrae to break can also damage your spinal cord. And when the spinal cord is damaged, the highway is essentially closed. Nerve impulses can’t get through. This results in paralysis – loss of mobility and sensation – below the level of injury.

Not all spinal cord injuries cause complete paralysis. In the case of an incomplete spinal cord injury, a small stream of highway traffic still gets through. Someone with an incomplete SCI may have a certain amount of feeling or movement below the level of injury. Often, in the case of an incomplete SCI, one side of the body has more function than the other. Thanks to new medical treatments at the time of injury, incomplete spinal cord injuries are more common than they used to be. These same injuries might have been complete if they’d happened a couple of decades earlier.

The site of your injury will determine what parts of your body are paralyzed. The higher the injury, the more body parts that are affected. For instance, a spinal cord injury in the upper, or cervical, region of your spine will affect your arms as well as your trunk, legs and pelvic area (including bowel and bladder). Someone with this level of injury is considered to be quadriplegic. But an injury lower down, in the thoracic or lumbar region, won’t affect your arms. Someone with a spinal cord injury in either of these regions is considered to be paraplegic. About half of all people with SCI are quadriplegic, and half are paraplegic.

• The most frequent cause of spinal cord injury is a motor vehicle collision. Other common causes include falls, diving accidents and medical complications.
• 84% of people who sustain a spinal cord injury are under 34 years old.
• 80% of all newly injured individuals who get referred to the Canadian Paraplegic Association are male.
• Almost everything we know about spinal cord injury has been learned in the past 20 years. And more is being discovered all the time.
• American actor Christopher Reeve (C1-2) was perhaps the world’s best known person with a spinal cord injury. He helped raise awareness of SCI and its consequences.

Researchers at the University of Alberta show that intensive training after a cervical spinal cord injury leads to better recovery, because it can stimulate the rewiring of the nerves.Link here to go to the full article: http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=8965

It’s normal to feel a range of emotions after a traumatic spinal cord injury. After all, many things about your life have changed, and your emotions can often take you on a wild ride.You might feel:

• Anger
• Grief
• Denial
• Shame
• Guilt
• Helplessness
• Sadness (Note: If you have symptoms of depression, like loss of energy, trouble concentrating, or feelings of hopelessness, get medical help immediately.)

• Positive self-talk. Instead of telling yourself that no one will want to hire you or find you attractive, or that you’ll never have a family, remind yourself of your job skills, your lovability, your sparkling personality.
• Self-care. Look after your medical needs and your general health. Avoid self-destructive behaviours like smoking or drugs.
• Problem solving. Faced with a challenge? Be creative with a solution. Research shows that people with SCI who have good problem solving skills can more easily reach their goals.
• Accepting help… and offering help. Know when to ask for and receive assistance. That can be an important part of problem solving. But don’t forget that you have something to offer others as well.
• Doing things you enjoy. Now’s the time to put pleasure back into your life. Are you a nature lover? Get out of doors! Have a hobby? Why not rediscover it?
• Connecting with peers. Share your ups and downs with other people with SCI – people who really get what you’re going through. CPA Ontario’s Peer Support program is a place to start.

Although it all may seem overwhelming, keep in mind that the way you feel right now may be different from the way you will feel next month, next year, or ten years from now. Listen to what these old-timers have to say:

“...I felt like I really stood out a lot when I was out in public. I was quite self-conscious about that. Now, I don’t think about it. I got over myself.”- Male, SCI since 1974

“…I saw a film of a woman who had been injured for more than 20 years. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach. I couldn't imagine five years paralyzed, never mind 10 or more. But as each year passed, with life getting gradually and continually easier, I adjusted. You will find a surprising number of people willing to smooth the path, if you remain open to them and welcome them in. Keep trying to look ahead.”- Female, SCI since 1983

“…my very first thought was, ‘What am I going to do now?’ I was in the military when I had my injury. I was 19 years old, and had my future planned already – and all that changed in an instant. Today I am on a very different path, but one no less fun and fulfilling! I am happily married and have spent 20 years working within the federal government. I have travelled the world, met hundreds of interesting people and experienced many amazing sights. Fundamentally, my injury helped me set priorities for my life.” - Male, SCI since 1983