What Are the Different Types of Spinal Cord Disease?
The spinal cord is essential in relaying chemical impulses to and from the brain, controlling reflexes, and sensing pain. Individuals who are diagnosed with spinal cord disease often have significant problems controlling muscle movement, seeing, and speaking, and some patients suffer from partial or complete paralysis. Most cases of spinal cord disease are directly related to spinal column injuries, though symptoms may also develop as a result of genetically inherited conditions. Spinal cord problems may result from such neurological and demyelinating disorders as multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, and cancer. The majority of injuries and illnesses that affect the spinal cord are debilitating to a certain degree and often incurable, though many people are able to maintain fulfilling lifestyles with the help of prescription medications and physical therapy.
