Abilities After Injury
Your abilities after you're injured depend on the level of injury.
| T2 or lower |
- The connection between the brain and the legs
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Paraplegia |
| C1 to C7 and T1 |
- The cervical or neck area
- Both arm and leg functions
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Tetraplegia, which is another word for quadriplegia |
| C4 level and above (C1, C2, and C3) |
- The motor signals that control the diaphragm (the muscle that makes the lungs expand when you breathe in)
- Your ability to breathe on your own and may require a mechanical ventilator to help you breathe
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N/A |
The extent of the injury also changes from person to person. It depends on which parts of the spinal cord are injured and how badly the cord was injured.
- Some people can move their arms, but cannot feel light touch or pinpricks.
- Othfer people have sensation, but no movement.
- Others may have no sensation and no movement.
Complete and Incomplete Injuries
There are complete and incomplete spinal cord injuries.
- Interrupts the connections between the brain and the end of the spinal cord.
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- Some nerve connections remain between the brain and the end of the spinal cord.
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- Recovery of sensation and movement is not very likely.
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- Chances for recovery are better than in a person with a complete injury.
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