At this time, there is no way to repair a spinal cord injury. Unlike the cells in other organs and tissues in your body, the10,000 subtypes of cells found in the spinal cord are not able to divide and create new cells because they are so specialized. Your body depends on cell regeneration in order to heal, and without this ability, healing is not possible.
Scientists have been working on finding a solution to this problem, but so far they have not been able to figure out how to repair injuries to the spine due to the complexity of the central nervous system. For now, if you have a spinal cord injury, your treatment options will be limited to treatments to prevent the injury from getting worse.
The Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury can be caused by anything that compromises this delicate structure, which is gelatinous in appearance. This can be caused by compression, the interruption of its blood supply, or, most often, trauma. These are the most common ways these injuries happen:
Sporting Injuries
Spinal cord injuries that happen while playing sports can be caused by a blow of a fall. This is the cause of many spinal cord injuries that are suffered by children and teens. Any sport where you can be struck or fall can cause a spinal cord injury. This includes:
- Football
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Gymnastics
- Rugby
- Hockey
- BMX bike riding
- Motorcycle racing
After a spinal cord injury, the sports participant is typically paralyzed below the point of the injury. Some sports are more likely to cause these injuries than others.
Falls From Heights
Construction workers are especially vulnerable to spinal cord injuries that are caused by falls from height, but there are a variety of situations that can also cause a fall. These include:
- Elevator dangers
- Malfunctioning escalators
- Hazardous obstructions
- Poorly maintained stairways
The disabled can suffer from spinal cord injury if malfunctioning mobility equipment causes them to fall. Seniors over the age of 65 are also more likely to suffer from spinal cord injuries after a fall.
Acts of Violence
Acts of violence like stabbings and gunshot wounds are the second most common cause of spinal cord injuries that cause paralysis, but they aren’t the only acts of violence that can cause it. Any type of violence that severs, tears, or crushes the spinal cord can leave the injured party completely or partially paralyzed.
These injuries are most common in males in their teens and twenties. Spinal cord injuries that result from any type of injury are more common among white males.
Vehicle Accidents
According to data from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, approximately 38% of all spinal cord damage is the result of vehicle accidents, making this the most common reason for spinal cord damage. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents involve a great deal of force. In some of these incidents, the force can cause the spinal cord to be damaged.
In the United States each year, there are approximately 12,000 new cases of spinal cord injury, and most did not have to happen. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with spinal cord injury due to a preventable act of negligence, you can visit the baderscott.com website to learn more about your options.
Hope for the Future
Scientists are working on exciting new experimental treatments that show promise for the future for victims of spinal cord injuries. One new study has suggested that disabling genes that inhibit nervous system cell regeneration can lead to the formation of new cells. Doctors are also using hypothermia to prevent inflammation after an accident.
For now, most treatments are aimed at making the lives of those who are affected by spinal cord injuries easier. Today, individuals with spinal cord injuries are able to live richer lives than ever before. Although there is still no cure, we are closer than we’ve ever been before.