Spinal cord injuries are serious, life-changing events. Those who experience them will find themselves confronted with ongoing questions with regards to how their lives will be affected. To avoid being overwhelmed, it helps to know you are not alone–there are others asking the same questions as you. The following are some of the most common:

1. What is the spinal cord?

The spinal cord is a fragile, dense bundle of nerves that runs from the base of your brain down and through an open space in your vertebrae and provides the communication between the brain and the muscles and organs of your body. Every second of the day, the spinal cord relays messages from the brain to the rest of your body, keeping it moving and functioning properly. When injury to the spinal cord occurs, this communication can be hindered or stopped altogether, often resulting in loss of function in the body.

2. What is spinal cord injury?

Spinal cord injury is when high-impact or other trauma damages the spinal cord in such a way that a person’s sensory, motor, and reflex messages are adversely affected. The inability for the brain to effectively communicate with the body can cause a range of symptoms including, but not limited to, paralysis, loss of sensitivity to touch and temperature, difficulty in controlling breathing and/or bladder function, and other secondary medical complications.

3. What are common causes of spinal cord injuries?

Nearly 90 percent of all spinal cord injuries are due to high-impact, traumatic events, with automobile accidents causing approximately 38 percent of all cases. Other common causes include injuries from sports such as football, gymnastics, skateboarding, and diving. However, there is a strong correlation between cause of injury and age. Generally, people are most at risk of spinal cord injury through an automobile accident or sports between the ages of 15-25; with older ages (60 and above), injury is more likely to be due to falls.

4. Are all spinal cord injuries equally serious?

While all spinal cord injuries are a serious matter with potentially life-changing effects, their level of seriousness can be divided into one of two groups: Complete spinal cord injuries are the most serious and occur when the spinal cord has been injured in such a way that the brain’s ability to send signals below the injury site is completely eliminated. This often results in paralysis, the extent of which is dependent on the location of the injury on the spine.

Incomplete spinal cord injury commonly results from compression or damage to the spinal cord that may reduce the brain’s ability to send messages below the site of the injury is but not eliminated completely.

5. What type of therapy can I expect to treat my spinal cord injury?

In general, the focus of rehabilitation in most spinal cord injury cases is to maximize independence while preventing secondary complications such as skin breakdown, lung infections, and general deconditioning. A typical therapist team will include doctors and nursing staff, along with physical and, occupational therapists who focus on improving the patient’s ability to move in bed, transfer one’s body to various surfaces, and maintain balance in sitting and standing positions. Sometimes speech therapists are involved too. This rehabilitation team works together with both patient and family to determine the best and safest discharge plan for the patient and any ongoing support the patient will need.

6. Is there a cure for spinal cord injuries?

While there is currently no complete cure for spinal cord injury, with dedicated rehabilitation and physical therapy, patients are often able to maximize function and gain more independence. And, with technological advances made possible through research, the chances of patients gaining independence improves every day. Spinal cord repair and regeneration, implanted stimulation devices, and other breakthroughs have shown great promise in minimizing the effect of spinal cord injury.

7. Will my injury cause me to be depressed?

The first thing to know is depression is common and can affect anyone. However, it is more common in the spinal cord injury population, with rates of depression existing in a range from 11% to 37%. It’s important to remember, though, depression is not caused by personal weakness or lack of willpower. Life stresses and medical issues can cause a change in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which is linked to changes in mood, sleep, energy, appetite, and the ability to concentrate. Fortunately, with proper counseling and treatment, these symptoms can be treated effectively.