Understanding your spinal cord and what happens if it is injured in a car accident.
Your spinal cord is made up of a bundle of nerves from the waist that connects to the bottom of your brain which makes up your Central Nervous System.
It carries nerve impulses to and from the brain that initiates movement and sends sensory information to your brain; such as heat, pressure, texture, etc.
Your spinal cord is protected by vertebrae that surround the spinal cord. This vertebrae plays an important role when you are in a car accident. If just the vertebrae is injured than paralysis and/or disabilities may not be permanent so think of it as your guard dog.
Car accidents are the cause for about 35% of spinal cord injuries which is the leading cause of spinal cord injuries. It is estimated that about 10,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries PER YEAR.
When you have a spinal cord injury: these type of injuries can result in the loss of feeling, mobility or both. These symptoms can come from just "damaging" the spinal cord. Paralysis is determined on where the spinal cord is damaged or severed. If the spinal cord injury is higher up to the neck it can affect both your arms and legs where damage lower will often only affect the legs.
Other than paralysis injuries to the spinal cord include organ malfunction, loss of bowl and bladder control, ability to control body temperature, blood pressure and sexual functions.
As much as I wish I had the ability to control all factors while I'm on the road...this is not possible. What is possible is what you do before. You can keep your body healthy. Strengthen your body with exercise. Vertebrae are protected by muscle. Certain exercises can help you strengthen the muscle and providing you a little more protection.
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