Spinal injuries can be one of the most dangerous injuries to sustain, and can take the longest to heal. The spine is the message system of the body, gathering the information taken in by nerves on our skin’s surface or through our eyes, and relaying this to our brain. It also spreads the commands that keep our heart beating, our muscles moving, and gives us control over our bodies. When this crucial area of our bodies is damaged, any of these functions can be impaired.
Injuries to the spine can be sustained in one quick moment, or they can develop slowly from years of poor posture or repetitive movements. While it can be hard to avoid a car accident or other traumatic event that often causes spinal column damage, some things can be avoided. For starters, sitting in an improperly designed office chair has been shown to be terrible for your spine. It creates compression between the vertebrae, and doesn’t allow workers to sit with proper posture, leading to weakened musculature.
When your back muscles don’t have enough strength, they have a hard time keeping your spine supported, leading to more health issues. Something this simple can be solved by using an ergonomic chair. So can the spinal issues caused by sleeping in the wrong position, or using too many pillows. But what about spinal column injuries sustained in an accident?
Falling from a horse, being tackled while playing football, and being in a car accident can all cause immediate and permanent damage. The worst result is obviously death, or full body paralysis. Partial or temporary paralysis, brain damage, extreme pain, or loss of control of your bowels and bladder are all common results of a spinal cord injury as well. Anyone who suffered a severe blow to their head, neck, or back should be taken to a hospital immediately.
They should be stabilized and moved as little as possible along the way. A quick response is one of the best ways to minimize the damage a spinal cord injury causes. If you’re already suffering from the pain and suffering caused by vertebrae compression, a slipped disc, or other spinal column issues, back surgery may be your best option.
Spine surgery has been improved drastically over the last few decades. Many conditions can be helped and sometimes even eliminated with the correct surgical procedure. Although most forms of paralysis are still permanent and irreversible, progress is being made towards giving mobility back to patients who can no longer walk.
There’s no reason to live with the constant pain of a spinal injury when a competent surgeon can perform one of the newly developed spinal surgeries. You can regain sensation in numbed extremities, and enjoy the activities that limited movement stopped you from taking part in. If you’re interested in these new developments in spinal care, speak with a spinal column specialist for more information. They’ll be able to tell you if you qualify for one of these surgical procedures, and how it could improve your life.
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