There are approximately 12,500 new cases of spinal cord injury a year according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. This is only one of many alarming statistics that call for increased awareness of spinal cord injuries and more expansive research of treatment options.

A resolution passed by Congress in 2012 declared September National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. Paradigm Outcomes will mark the occasion by raising awareness and sharing information on how this injury affects workers and their families.

What is a spinal cord injury?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord in association with injury to the vertebral column. This damage prevents signals from being sent between the spinal nerves and the brain, affecting movement below the injury site.

Those who suffer from spinal cord injuries can suffer from either an incomplete injury, which allows for some sensation and signal transmission to occur, or a complete injury, which results in total paralysis below the point of injury. In both instances, spinal cord injury can cause paralysis, sensory loss, and bladder and bowel dysfunction, and affect virtually every organ in the body including skin, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, metabolic and hormonal systems among others.

Why is awareness so important?

A spinal cord injury is a traumatic and life changing event that can also affect all aspects of a person’s life. For injured workers, it can mean a dramatic loss of wages. The physical change and psychological stress can take a significant toll on the person and her family.

Living and aging with a spinal cord injury poses numerous lifelong physical, medical and psychosocial challenges that evolve over time, and most people will require rehospitalization from a number of medical complications. Since many of the causes of rehospitalization are preventable, it is very important to establish an appropriate, long-term care configuration to reduce the risk of complications.streaming Free Fire 2017 film

The National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month gives all of us the opportunity to recognize the challenges faced by those with SCI, support individuals in our communities and applaud the progress made in research thus far. Awareness of this serious medical condition can help spur further advances in treatment options and offer education to help families adapt and thrive. To learn more about spinal cord injuries and the complications associated with this condition, visit our website and the National Library of Medicine.