The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves running down the middle of your back, carrying signals back and forth between your body and your brain. It is protected by the vertebrae, the bones that make up the spine. An accident that damages the vertebrae or other parts of the spine can also injure the spinal cord.
Other problems of the spinal cord
- Tumours
- Infections, such as meningitis and polio
- Inflammatory diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Degenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy
Symptoms
They vary, but can include pain, numbness, loss of feeling and muscle weakness. These may be felt around the spinal cord itself and also farther away, in the arms and legs.
Treatment
Treatment often includes medicines and surgery, depending on the cause.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Spinal Cord Diseases." https://medlineplus.gov/spinalcorddiseases.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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