Why Spinal Injuries (Even Minor Ones) Are Next To Impossible To Completely Fix.
In: Biology
I’ve broken my back twice. T3/T4 the first go around. 18 months later, L4, L5 (and pelvis). (Skydiving can take a toll). I didn’t even know I had broken T3 and 4 until I had my second mishap. The doctors looking at my MRI for my lower back injury asked when I broke my upper back. Surprise. Surprise.
Anyway, I got to meet some smart people along the way. It’s where I learned that a significant number of people who end up paralyzed don’t actually sever their spinal chords. A compression fracture of a vertebra (like what I did to my T3&4) can result in swelling around the spinal chord. The swelling can cut off blood flow resulting in nerve death and subsequent permanent paralysis. I was very fortunate that didn’t happen to me. (My T3/4 injury was caused by an extremely hard opening parachute. The second injury was an off-field landing resulting in a 30’ fall).
The lesson to take away is: if you’ve suffered a traumatic injury to your back, see a doctor! A simple steroid injection can mean the difference between being sore for a few weeks or never feeling anything again!
Latest Answers