An injury to the spinal cord may cause various symptoms. Patients often experience an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to axons (nerve fibers) in the spinal cord. Loss of movement and a loss of sensation (e.g., ability to feel heat, cold and touch) are also typical symptoms of spinal cord injuries (SCIs).

Other symptoms include:

• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Exaggerated reflexes or spasms
• Changes in sexual function or sensitivity
• Breathing difficulties
• Chronic coughing or need to clear secretions from the lungs

A person who experiences an SCI should not be moved by anyone other than a medical professional immediately after the injury. In some cases, the signs of an SCI are not obvious. However, in other cases, certain symptoms may indicate a person has just experienced an SCI. These include:

• Severe pain in the neck or back
• Inability or unwillingness to move the neck
• Feelings of weakness, numbness or paralysis
• Inability to control the limb, bowel or bladder
• Ongoing change in a person’s level of consciousness
• Twisted neck or back