Regardless of the cause, a spinal cord injury is a life-changing event. Most injuries lead to lifelong paralysis and many patients must rely on assistive technology to complete basic daily tasks. There are many different ways that a spinal cord injury can be caused. Learn more about the causes of spinal cord injuries and what you can do to protect yourself in today’s blog.
A spinal cord injury occurs when one of your vertebrae experiences a traumatic blow which leads to its fracture, dislocation, or compression. Many spinal cord injuries are also caused by violent injuries such as knife wounds or gunshots which sever the vertebrae. Some of the most common causes of a traumatic injury include diving into shallow water, falls, car accidents, and sports-related accidents. While traumatic injuries are the most common cause of spinal cord injury, they can also be caused by certain degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis, inflammation, and infection.
In addition to the original trauma, auxiliary damage is often incurred after the initial blow due to inflammation, excess bleeding, swelling, and the accumulation of fluid around your spinal cord.
Certain populations are much more likely to experience spinal cord due to a predilection for risk-taking behavior. Men between the ages of 16-30 are by far the most likely to experience a spinal cord injury which makes sense as they tend to be the group most likely to engage in risky activities such as sports. Because spinal cord injuries have such devastating consequences, it is important to mitigate risk. Always be sure to exercise caution during risky activities and avoid driving without a seat belt which can greatly increase your risk of injury.