Spinal Cord Injury Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Spinal Cord Injury?
A spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious medical condition that can cause lifelong physical, psychological, and emotional damage. It is caused by damage to the spine or vertebrae that disrupts nerve signals between the brain and other parts of the body. This can result in paralysis, loss of sensation, and even death if left untreated.The most common causes of SCI are car accidents, falls, sports injuries, violence, or any kind of trauma to the back or neck area. Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may include medication to reduce pain and inflammation as well as physical therapy and rehabilitation to help regain movement or sensation in affected areas.The effects of an SCI vary from person to person but typically involve some degree of paralysis in affected areas. This may include complete paralysis below a certain point (i.e., paraplegia), partial paralysis (i.e., quadriplegia), or more mild forms such as muscle weakness or numbness. Other effects can include bladder control problems, difficulty breathing due to weakened muscles around the lungs and chest wall (called paralytic chest syndrome), blood clots due to immobility, depression due to lifestyle changes brought on by disability status, fatigue due to reduced activity level and more frequent hospitalizations for complications related to immobility such as bedsores/pressure ulcers and infections like pneumonia. In addition to these physical changes there are also social implications associated with having an SCI including stigma associated with disability status which can lead to feelings of isolation or loneliness; difficulty finding employment opportunities; financial hardship resulting from medical costs associated with treatments & therapies; reduced quality-of-life activities such as recreational & leisure pursuits; changes in relationships; etc. The good news is that people living with SCIs have access today not only medical treatments but also many different kinds of support services & programs designed specifically for them: peer support networks for sharing stories/experiences about living with a SCI; adaptive sports leagues for competing against others facing similar challenges; educational opportunities through specialized schools & degree programs tailored towards individuals living with disabilities; job placement assistance connecting employers seeking qualified candidates who happen also live with disabilitiesjust name a few. With proper treatment & care combined support services people living with an SCI can learn how better manage their condition so they can return back into active participation within society once again.