What is Spinal Cord Injury?

A Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is when the bones in the spine are damaged in such a way as to either sever or crush the delicate cord running down the centre. The best analogy that one can make is that of a phone cable being cut by a drill while doing DIY, and as such cutting off the signals to the brain. When I was first injured like all those before I guessed that although I had been stupid enough to do some serious damage to myself, that medical procedures these days had progressed to such a level that I would be either cured totally, or able to live a full life (if not quite the one I had planned out for myself). It still haunts me to this day just how little there can be done medically to help those with this type of injury.

A SCI is an extremely traumatic experience, and leaves the patient both physically and mentally scared. Unfortunately most of these scars are then with you for the rest of your life. It is usually those who are the most adventurous and physically able who put themselves into the line of danger, whether through sport or motor vehicles. It is also a fact that men in their late teens and twenty's are those most commonly injured, as I was. The two figures here demonstrate those statistics all too graphically.

Most types of therapy and treatment that are used after the initial trauma are to immobilise the fracture site, whether by rest or surgical means, and wait and see just how much movement returns. After the initial injury has healed, then lots of physical and occupational therapy follows, teaching you how to cope with the infinitely simple task you once did without thinking. Brushing your teeth now becomes a sweat-inducing, stamina-sapping marathon that 30 minutes later has you breathing like a long distance runner!

Another side affect of such a traumatic injury is that you tend to turn on those closest to you. I, as many others have, have turned and been totally vindictive to members of my family, and I have watched other patients in hospital do exactly the same. I have watch guys turn to their wives and girlfriends and tell them to leave and not come back again ever, and whether they thought it was for the best or just self pity, they meant every word. Thankfully I have seen things work out for the good in many cases, but it should be highlighted that it can and does happen, and if fore warned both parties might deal with it better.

My Injury

When I broke my neck, between the fifth and sixth vertebrae, I realised very early on that most of the life I had done before would no longer be the same. I dived into a swimming pool, showing off as most guys do to impress a girl. Next thing I knew was a sore head and my hands floating in front of me. I cover my injury and rehab in greater detail in my Biography Page so won't distract you here with it, but as you can see from the figure on the right, I was lucky to survive the initial injury.

Tetraplegia

Tetraplegia (this is the injury I have) is caused when the spinal cord is damage between the first and seventh vertebrae in the neck. This affects all four limbs to a greater or lesser extent, and can also affect the patients ability to breathe. Christopher Reeves was probably the most famous tetraplegic in recent years. He unfortunately had broken his neck at C1 and others below, but it was amazing that he survived this injury at all. That he then went on to become such an advocate for research into SCI will I think be his lasting epitaph. As you go down the bones though, things improve and by the fifth vertebrae a reasonably ok life is achievable, but it will take a fair amount of effort. Most tetraplegics cannot live independently. Although I live on my own, I require 24/7 assistance that comes from my Personal Assistants (PA), and it is through this teamwork that I am able to hold down a full time job.

Paraplegia

Paraplegia is caused when the spinal cord is damaged below where the neck meets the shoulders. From this injury down patients will have no neurological damage of the spine that affects the arms. This in a nutshell means that they can achieve just about anything they set their sights on, albeit with a few hiccups. Wheelchairs now days are very light and very manoeuvrable, and some of the athletic feats that even the most unfit paraplegic achieves are quite an eye opener. Most paraplegics can drive, live on their own or work full time.

Incomplete Injuries

There are some lucky individuals that have incomplete injuries, and as such make a greater recovery than their initial break would imply. This though can be a double edged victory. The medical community are then either infinitely curious as to just how much you can do, or are frustrated as to what to do with you, as you don't fit their text book view of SCI. This sounds a little harsh, but after spending so much time in hospitals I have seen both views levelled at those with an incomplete injury. The abilities of those with an incomplete injury are even more erratic to judge than any other SCI, and I have seen those with an incomplete neck break walk out of hospital. So the old adage about not judging a book by the cover is certainly true of incomplete SCI patients.