Frequently Asked Questions

Although statistically most spinal-cord injuries are caused by “traumatic” injury i.e. trips and falls, motor vehicle accidents, sporting accidents there are also a number of non-traumatic causes of damage to the spinal cord. These include spinal strokes, spinal tumours, spinal syrinx/cyst and various immune system reactions impacting the spinal cord. Other conditions that are also similar to spinal cord injury include Transverse Myelitis, Lyme Disease and Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Spinal cord injuries affect movement, sensation and reflexes including impairing breathing capacity.   

The nature of the injury, and the location of the damage to the spinal cord will affect the severity and number of functions lost. 

As well as impairment to movement, spinal cord injury causes many complex and chronic health problems which persist across a lifetime. These include the more “hidden” issues relating to temperature control, regulation of blood pressure, breathing issues, skin problems, and susceptibility to infection. 

Tetraplegia and paraplegia both involve a loss of function and mobility, but they affect different parts of the body. 

Paraplegia is a condition that results in the loss of sensation and movement in the lower half of the body, including both legs and often parts of the trunk. This impairment typically occurs due to an injury or damage to the spinal cord below the neck, in the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions. 

On the other hand, tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, involves loss of sensation and movement in both the upper and lower parts of the body. It affects the arms, hands, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs. Tetraplegia usually occurs due to an injury or damage to the spinal cord in the cervical region (neck area). 

The specific level of function and impairment can vary widely depending on the individual and the extent of the spinal cord injury. 

A spinal cord injury can happen to anyone, at any time. Whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, male or female – spinal cord injuries do not discriminate and the outcomes are often devastating and life-changing For the individual and their families..   

 Every four hours, somebody in the UK is paralysed by a spinal cord injury. Up to 500,000 people are injured throughout the world every year, with 4,400 of those in the United Kingdom. Currently, there is an estimated 105,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the United Kingdom. At Spinal Research, we are working to help repair and restore as many of the impaired bodily functions as possible to give those living with spinal cord injury a greater quality of life.   

Until recently it was felt that any regeneration and repair of the spinal cord was not possible.   
 
However over the last 40 years research has delivered major advances in our understanding of spinal cord biology.  Scientists now understand how the body responds to injury to the spinal cord, and importantly they are finding ways to encourage repair. This is in turn leading to different ways to help restore function for people living with spinal cord injury and paralysis. 

Importantly, this research has led to a number of different treatment approaches being trialled around the world with human participants. Many of these trials are delivering promising results. 

There is real excitement, and belief that we are now witnessing the first generation of therapeutics which will deliver functional improvement for those living with paralysis today. 

There is a general consensus that there is no one fix treatment approach that will restore all functions after injury to the spinal cord. Rather, it will be a combination of approaches which will be used together to produce the best recovery post injury. 

At Spinal Research we fund the best international science and scientists across a number of different treatment areas in order to accelerate real, life changing improvements for our community. 

Taking an active role in developing new research is one way that you can play your part in helping develop a cure for paralysis.

However, please be aware that although there are new treatments and trials taking place around the world, it is vitally important that you check to ensure any medical procedure meets the highest care standards and that you have spoken to your spinal consultant or an informed medical professional before considering any procedure.

We have a whole page with FAQs, and links to useful resources to help you take part in trials. Just visit:Take part in research

Our goal is very much focused around finding a cure for paralysis benefiting everyone in the SCI community.

This means working with leading academic institutions and scientific partners to accelerate promising research and develop new treatments for paralysis.

As such, we don’t provide support or advice for help with day-to-day issues faced by the SCI community including care needs, issues with employment or housing. For help with these kind of challenges, we would recommend speaking to another spinal charity including the SIA, The Backup Trust and Aspire.

If you want to stay in contact with the latest research, and our work you can join our specific research focused Facebook group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/spinalcordinjuryresearch/

Alternatively you can sign up to receive our regular newsletter:

https://spinal-research.org/email-updates

Historically research into spinal cord injury has been critically underfunded.

However, with promising treatment on the horizon, funding is now vital to fulfil the promise of our existing pipeline of research and plan for the future.

You can play your part in helping us cure paralysis. There are a number of ways to get involved from individual fundraising, taking on a new challenge or becoming a regular donor.