Whenever you suffer an injury to the brain or spinal column, that injury may be called a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries impact you significantly and can change the path of your life. They have devastating effects on you and your family.
Spinal cord injuries are considered to be catastrophic because of the location and the potential severity of the injuries. The most severe spinal injuries can leave someone completely paralyzed and reliant on others if they don’t pass away because of the wounds.
Patients sometimes also develop severe complications from this type of injury. One syndrome that a patient with a spinal injury may develop is called central cord syndrome. Central cord syndrome is normally caused by damage to the cervical spinal cord. Some of the symptoms include:
- Weakness in the arms
- Loss of pain sensations
- Trouble sensing temperature
- Difficulty recognizing light touch
- Trouble sensing pressure below the point of injury
Central cord syndrome is a kind of incomplete spinal cord injury. In fact, it is the most common form of incomplete injury. It results in impairment to the arms and hands, but the legs are normally spared, at least to some degree.
The syndrome is caused by damage to the large nerves that travel from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord. There is no cure, but many people are able to regain at least some functionality. Some individuals get back to near-normal function, but a patient’s expectations should be based on tests performed by their medical providers.
Quick treatment can help reduce the likelihood of permanent sensation loss. If you’re in a severe car crash or are injured and have these symptoms, always seek help as quickly as possible.