The physical limitations on work activities after a spinal cord injury can vary widely, depending on the location and severity of the injury. While some people can retain full functionality after healing from a spinal cord injury, others experience far more severe effects, such as full body paralysis. While advances in medical science, especially emergency procedures immediately following an injury to the spinal cord, have helped to reduce the risk of permanent damage, the results of a spinal cord injury can still be very serious, notes the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is a soft bundle of nerves surrounded and protected by the 33 bones of the vertebrae that make up the spinal column. The vertebrae are separated by discs of cartilage and openings where the nerves exit the spinal cord to extend throughout the body, notes the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS. The location where the nerves exit the spinal cord corresponds to specific parts of the body. For example, the lumbar spinal nerves control areas such as the lower abdomen and back, notes the NINDS.
Injury Location
The location of a spinal cord injury is a major factor in which parts of the body are affected by the injury. Location is significant not only because specific areas of the body are controlled by specific areas of the spinal cord, but also because signals from the brain travel down the spinal cord to specific areas. For this reason, a serious injury to the spinal cord may also affect the functioning of your spinal cord anywhere below the injury location, also referred to as the neurological level, notes the Mayo Clinic. For example, a cervical spinal injury can cause permanent problems ranging from difficulty breathing to full paralysis from the neck down, notes MedlinePlus.
Severity
The severity of the injury to your spinal cord will also play a major part in what kind of work activities you are able to do after the injury. According to the Mayo Clinic, an incomplete spinal injury involves some sensation and motor control below the injury, while a complete spinal cord injury means you have no motor control or sensation below the neurological level of the injury. Depending on your occupation, spinal cord injuries, especially complete injuries, can severely limit your ability to do your job. According to the Science-Info-Pages fact sheet on spinal cord injuries, 52 percent of individuals with spinal cord injuries are considered paraplegic and 47 percent are quadriplegic.
Post Injury Therapy
After a spinal cord injury, a team of physicians specializing in therapy for individuals with spinal cord injuries will help you prepare physically and mentally for employment and life management. Occupational therapists help patients redevelop fine motor control and other basic skills. Vocational therapist assess your physical and mental abilities to determine limitations on the kinds of work you can do, as well as teaching you to use assistive devices to help you use essential tools, such as computers and telephones. Vocational therapists also will help you find employment appropriate to your abilities.
Additional Information
Depending on the severity of your spinal cord injury, you may be unable to return to work. Your therapy team will assist you in applying for disability insurance, if applicable. Therapists will also assist you in finding organizations to help with expensive equipment, such as equipment to help you breathe and assistive devices, notes NINDS. For individuals unable to return to work, vocational therapists will help by suggesting educational and social activities to promote an active and stimulating lifestyle.
