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Spinal cord injury is a serious medical issue in which the spinal cord has been damaged. This can be caused by a fall, motor vehicle accident, sports-related injury, or other trauma. The injury can be mild or severe, and it can cause loss of sensation, muscle weakness, or paralysis. In the event of a serious spinal cord injury, immediate treatment is needed to prevent further damage and avoid permanent disability. Dr. Akhil Tawari is a spine surgeon in Mumbai who is renowned to treat such serious injuries with great expertise.
A diagnosis for spinal cord injury will need to be made by a doctor or other medical professional. Given below are some such imaging technologies that can be used for diagnosis
MRI Scans: The most common way to diagnose an injury in the spinal cord is through MRI scans. This diagnostic procedure can detect damage or inflammation of the spinal cord.
X-ray: X-rays use electromagnetic radiation to show a good picture of the back’s bone. Plain x-rays can’t detect herniated discs, but they can reveal areas in your back where bone spurs or other degenerative changes might pinch your nerves or spinal cord.
BMD Dexa scan: BMD Dexa Scan is a medical imaging test that can diagnose spinal cord injury by analyzing the density of the spinal cord.
Blood tests: Blood and urine tests can help determine the underlying conditions, such as inflammation and infection, causing back pain.
Spinal cord injury treatment
Physical Therapy
The most common treatment for injuries in the spinal cord is physical therapy. Physical therapy helps to restore function and mobility to the injured area. It can also help relieve pain or numbness in the area. Some of these physical therapy methods include stretching, exercising, and strengthening the muscles around the spine.
The medications that can treat spinal cord injury are a wide range of treatments, including painkillers, anticonvulsants, sedatives, and muscle relaxants. Antidepressants, opiates, and benzodiazepines are some of the most common medications used to treat spinal cord injuries.
For a spinal cord injury treatment, the most common surgeries involve the decompression of the spine. Other surgeries include those that address a deformity or fracture in the cervical region or the lumbar region. Given below are two common spine surgeries.
Spinal fusion is a surgical technique that involves the joining of two or more vertebrae, restoring the spine to its natural alignment and reducing pain. When a patient suffers from a spinal cord injury, they cannot move one or more of their limbs. Spinal fusion surgery is typically performed after the person has experienced a traumatic injury that affects the spinal cord.
Spinal decompression is a treatment that involves the removal of the excess bone, or bony fragments, from around the spinal cord. It improves blood flow to the spinal cord and increases nerve impulses to stimulate the spinal cord. This surgery is typically done when a patient has been paralyzed from a spinal cord injury or after years of weight-bearing on one leg.