Spinal cord injuries can completely change the life of the patient by causing a permanent loss of motion, strength and sensation in the portion of the body below the site of the injury, which means that the patient may lose his/her ability to walk and become paralysed.
Undergoing a spinal cord surgery is definitely not a small deal and its results can be life-changing. The spinal cord coordinates various important functions and movements of our body by transmitting electrical signals from various organs to the brain and vice versa. There are around 10,000 to 12,000 cases of spinal cord injuries.
Spinal cord injury can lead to life-changing after-effects which determine the quality of your life in the future. The injuries vary depending upon their cause, the intensity of pain, and the section of the spinal cord that is affected. These can lead to loss of movement, sensation and bladder control, increased spasms, pain, problems with breathing, change in sexual activity and infertility.
Also known as epidural electrical stimulation (EES) and epi-stim, Epidural stimulation for spinal cord injury (SCI), has gradually gained popularity in recent years. The procedure involves the use of electrical currents on the lower spinal cord in order to stimulate the nerves directly by bypassing the traditional brain-to-spinal-cord pathways.
Well, in a layman’s term your spine is known as your backbone.
Aware of the fact that your backbone provides support to your body, by helping you stand, sit, bend, move and twist. Extending from the base of the skull to the extreme lower back and shaped like an ‘S’, the spinal column or vertebrae is a shield that covers the spinal cord against injuries.