By What happens if the thoracic spine is damaged?
Following a thoracic spinal cord injury, individuals experience loss of motor control and sensation in the trunk and/or legs (paraplegia). Depending on the level and severity of the spinal cord injury, the amount of motor control and sensation spared will vary.
What is the most common injury to the thoracic spine?
The most common causes of thoracic spinal cord injuries to the T9 – T12 levels are:
- Compression fractures.
- Osteoporosis.
- Trauma.
- Motor vehicle accidents.
- Birth defects.
- Tumors.
- Infections.
What are the symptoms of lumbar spine injury?
What are the symptoms of a spinal cord injury?
- problems walking.
- loss of control of the bladder or bowels.
- inability to move the arms or legs.
- feelings of spreading numbness or tingling in the extremities.
- unconsciousness.
- headache.
- pain, pressure, and stiffness in the back or neck area.
- signs of shock.
What part of the body does the thoracic spine control?
The thoracic spine has 12 nerve roots (T1 to T12) on each side of the spine that branch from the spinal cord and control motor and sensory signals mostly for the upper back, chest, and abdomen.
What would a lumbar L vertebral injury result in?
The L1 vertebra is the topmost section of the lumbar spinal column. This section of the spine contains a portion of the spinal cord. Injuries to the L1 spine can affect hip flexion, cause paraplegia, loss of bowel/bladder control, and/or numbness in the legs.
What happens if you injure your lumbar vertebrae?
Injuries can range from relatively mild ligament and muscle strains, to fractures and dislocations of the bony vertebrae, to debilitating spinal cord damage. Depending on how severe your injury is, you may experience pain, difficulty walking, or be unable to move your arms or legs (paralysis).
When should I be concerned about thoracic back pain?
Pain that doesn’t get better after 2-4 weeks of treatment. Pain that is accompanied by severe stiffness in the morning. Changes to the shape of the spine, including the appearance of lumps or bumps. Pins and needles, numbness or weakness of the legs that is severe or gets worse over time.