Spine Vs Spinal Cord: Structure, Injuries, and Treatment

Did you know that your movements, thoughts, actions, and every other vital function in your body are dependent on your spine? Look at it this way. If your brain is the command center for your body, your spinal cord is the pathway to the brain. The spinal cord carries the messages from the brain to the body and from the body to the brain. Therefore, it is important to keep it safe and protected from any kind of injury. 

A healthy spine aids you with everyday tasks and movements such as sitting, bending, picking up things, walking, and even moving your neck. An unhealthy spine can make performing these simple tasks quite difficult or painful. And any spinal cord injury can limit mobility and be a real blow to an individual’s quality of life. Therefore, it is absolutely important to take care of your spinal cord health, understand its structure, and its role in your overall well-being.

What exactly is your spine made of?

The human spine is made up of 24 small bones called vertebrae which are stacked one on top of another to create a spinal column. And in between each vertebra is a soft, gel-like cushion called a disc. The discs absorb all pressure exerted on the spine and keep the bones from rubbing against each other. Additionally, each vertebra is held to the others by ligaments — which basically connect bones to bones. 

Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? To simplify it for you, the spine consists of:

• Vertebrae — 24 small bones stacked on top of each other
• Discs — the gel-like cushion between vertebrae
• Spinal Cord — the canal-like structure between each vertebra
  

So, there you have the difference between your spine and spinal cord. The spinal cord acts as a train carrying moving information from the body to the brain and vice versa. Equipped with the right knowledge on the structure of your spine, you can now easily identify where you’re experiencing pain (if any). 

How to differentiate between neck pain, back pain, and spinal cord injuries?

We experience pain in the back or the neck every now and then. However, that doesn't mean that something is wrong with your spinal cord. In fact, there is a fair chance that you might be developing a bulging disc or a herniated disc, which is related to one's spine and not the spinal cord. 

What is a disc bulge? 

When the inner nucleus of the person’s vertebral disc protrudes to its outer layer, it is called a bulging disc. This condition occurs after heavy pressure is applied on the disc,  due to degeneration (from age or other factors), or external factors (falls or accidents). 

However a bulge is not synonymous to a bulging disc. It would be categorized as a disc when the protrusion starts hampering the functioning of the surrounding nerves — an indication that something is wrong with the spine not the spinal cord. 

What is a herniated disc? 

Commonly known as a slipped or ruptured disc, it occurs due to a crack in the outer layer of the cartilage allowing a portion of the inner cartilage to protrude out of the disc. Moreover, when compared to a bulging disc, a herniated one is likely to cause more pain as it protrudes farther, which means that the bulge will be bigger and is more likely to interfere with the normal functioning of the surrounding nerve roots.  

What are the types of spinal cord injuries? 

Any spinal cord injury is mostly classified into two categories: complete and incomplete — depending on the severity of the injury. Here’s how can you identify one from the other:

Complete Spinal Cord Injury: When a person is unable to sense anything or move the area where they’ve been injured

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: When a person can move or sense below the injury 

What are the most common spinal cord injuries? 

Any damage caused to the spinal cord can result in a complete or total loss of sensation and mobility below the injury. Injuries that are closer to the neck can sometimes cause paralysis of a larger part of the body. A spinal cord injury is, more often than not, the result of an unpredictable accident or violent event. Some of the events or incidents that can cause serious damage to the spinal cord are:

• Violent or severe attacks such as a stabbing or a gunshot
• Diving into water that’s too deep and hitting the bottom
• Any trauma caused by accident to the face, head, and neck region, back, or chest area
• Taking a fall from a significant height
• Injuries during sporting events
• Electrocution
• Severe twisting of the middle portion of the torso
  

How do you identify a spinal cord injury?

The best way to identify a spinal cord injury is by getting a physical examination. The medical professional will obtain your medical history, gather details surrounding the time of the injury to gauge the severity of it. Some of the symptoms you can look out for yourself are:

• Inability to walk 
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Inability to move the arms or legs
• Sensation of spreading numbness or tingling
• Unconsciousness
• Headache
• Pain, pressure, and stiffness in the back or neck area
• Signs of shock
• Unnatural positioning of the head
• Difficulty breathing or coughing

If you believe you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of these symptoms refrain from repositioning the head or standing up. Seek professional medical help immediately in order to get the right and timely treatment for the injury.

How are spinal cord injuries treated? 

The treatment of any spinal cord injury depends on the type of injury that a person sustains. And it requires a lot of care and expertise that can be provided by either neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, or spinal cord medicine specialists. Some of the options available are:

First Response — Surgery 

Surgery is a standard treatment for spinal cord injuries and is the first response if there is a risk of further damage. The type of surgery depends on the injury.

Ongoing Care — Occupational, Physical Therapy, and Stem Cell Therapy

Occupational therapy or physical therapy is provided to an individual to help them overcome the trauma of the injury. These therapies help an individual by: 

• Assessing and identifying the injury area
• Finding solutions that are suited to the patient
• Teaching a person to perform simple tasks such as standing up, washing, and dressing
• Ensuring correct posture and the use of a wheelchair
• Empowering them with a more positive approach to their condition
• Regaining their skills of eating, exercising, etc

These therapies and rehabilitation play a vital role in improving and maintaining the long-term quality of life. Another treatment that is revolutionalizing the way a spinal cord injury is treated is Stem Cell Therapy. 

How can Stem Cell Therapy treat spinal cord injuries?

Stem Cell Therapy in the treatment of Spinal Cord Injury typically includes:

• Stem cell nutritive therapy

• Oral and intravenous medications
• Rehabilitation programs that include:

·         Physiotherapy

·         Occupational therapy

·         Speech therapy

·         Acupuncture

·         Therapeutic massages

One of the most recommended facilities where one can get safe and reliable Stem Cell Therapy treatment in Bangalore and Hyderabad is at Plexus Neuro and Stem Cell Research Centre. 

If you are currently experiencing a spinal cord injury or have a loved one who is, bear in mind that the road to recovery isn’t an easy one. But with a positive mindset, it definitely does become a smoother one. Stay safe, healthy, and happy.

velop resistance towards anti-epileptic drugs, and surgery is not recommended for all patients, given the complications outlined above. In such cases, patients may look at stem Cell Therapy for relief. 

Stem Cell Therapy, a drugless, painless procedure where stem cells— which have regenerative capabilities — replace faulty cells and treat patients with a given disease. These cells can be obtained from a donor or from the patient’s own body. 

Cells which are obtained from the patient’s own body, preferably from the bone marrow, are called autologous stem cells. This method is the preferred one as it prevents further complications that might occur with donor cells due to rejection.

According to research published in the journal Advances in Medical Sciences, Stem Cell Therapy is a ‘promising treatment option for epilepsy patients who are resistant to antiepileptic drugs.’ 

The research-based its results on a trial involving a group of patients. They received either standard treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (control group), or anti-epileptic drugs combined with a single intravenous administration of their own stem cells, obtained from their bone marrow.  

The results of the research showed that three in 10 patients receiving Stem Cell Therapy achieved disease remission and five other patients started to respond to treatment with anti-epileptic drugs. In the control group, only two out of 12 patients started to respond to drug treatment. Moreover, no adverse effects were noted after the injection of stem cells. 

Here is the best part. One doesn’t have to travel to other continents for treatment as Stem Cell Therapy in Bangalore is now a reality with Plexus, a Neuro and Stem Cell Therapy center. Moreover, at Plexus, to mitigate the effects of various neurological disorders, patients undergo a customized program called the Regenerative Rehabilitation Program which includes Stem Cell Therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.