Full Answer
Can spinal cord damage from a C3-C5 vertebrae injury be reversed?
Unfortunately, there is no treatment which will completely reverse the spinal cord damage from a cervical vertebrae injury at the C3 - C5 levels. Medical care is focused on preventing further damage to the spinal cord and utilization of remaining function.
How can I recover from a C7 spinal cord injury?
Recovering from a C7 spinal cord injury will require physical and occupational therapy. Both therapies will assess your physical abilities and work towards improving your motor skills. Physical therapy will improve your gross motor skills (think big movements) through different exercise modalities.
What are the treatment options for a crushed vertebrae?
What Are the Treatment Options for Crushed Vertebrae? Treatment for a vertebral burst fracture due to trauma ranges from a back brace or body cast for stable fractures to open surgery for unstable fractures, according to SpineUniverse.
How is C5-C6 spinal motion segment treated?
Treatment of the C5-C6 spinal motion segment typically begins with nonsurgical methods. Treatment of the C5-C6 spinal motion segment begins with nonsurgical methods. Persistent and/or progressive spinal cord or spinal nerve problems may need to be surgically treated.
What can be done for a crushed vertebrae?
Vertebroplasty is a new surgical procedure that may be used to treat compression fractures. In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a catheter into the compressed vertebra. The catheter is used to inject the fractured vertebrae with bone cement, which hardens, stabilizing the vertebral column.
How serious is a crushed vertebrae?
Minor fractures of the spine can be healed with rest and medication, however, more severe fractures might require surgery to realign the bones. If left untreated, spinal fractures can lead to permanent spinal cord injury, nerve damage and paralysis.
What happens if you fracture C6 and C7?
When the spinal cord gets injured at C6-C7, pain, weakness, or paralysis may occur in one or more parts of the body below the injured level. Reduction of bowel, bladder, and/or breathing functions may occur in some cases. Typically, nonsurgical treatments are tried first to control the symptoms of C6-C7 injuries.
How do you fix a C6 and C7 vertebrae?
Surgical Treatment for C6-C7Surgery to remove all or part of a disc. Removal of a herniated or degenerated disc may help relieve pressure on compressed nerve roots, reducing radicular pain. ... Surgery on the vertebrae.
What is the best treatment for a compression fracture?
Treatment of compression fractures may include medicine, rest, a back brace, or physical therapy. Sometimes, surgery is needed. The risk of new fractures can be reduced by doing regular weight-bearing exercises that increase strength, and balance exercises that reduce the risk for falls.
Is walking good for a fractured vertebrae?
However, this does not mean you should stay sedentary until the fracture heals. Low impact activities, such as walking or tai chi, are good for your heart, and a healthy circulatory system can increase blood flow to the fracture and help your bones heal faster.
Can you recover from a C6 spinal cord injury?
If you've suffered a traumatic injury to your C6 cervical spinal cord, the best thing that you can do is seek treatment as early as possible. Once you're able to do so, begin engaging in physical therapy, activity-based therapy, and exercises to keep your body moving.
Can you recover from a C7 spinal cord injury?
Physical therapy is a very important part of recovery. The patient will need to maintain any function not lost by the cord damage, as well as try to regain function. For instance, C7 and C6 spinal cord injury exercises may help speed up recovery. Surgery is done to stabilize the area around the spinal cord damage.
Can you walk after a C7 spinal cord injury?
Many factors play a role in regaining the ability to walk after a spinal cord injury. Fortunately, it is possible for many SCI survivors. There is potential to walk again after SCI because the spinal cord has the ability to reorganize itself and make adaptive changes called neuroplasticity.
How long does it take for C6 and C7 to heal?
It will take between 4 and 6 weeks before light work can be accomplished, while full recovery usually takes between 2 and 3 months. If necessary your doctor may suggest physical therapy sessions to aid recovery.
What nerves are affected by C6 and C7?
The C6-C7 disc is 6th cervical disc near the lower part of the neck, near the top of the shoulders. The nerve root that would be affected by the C6-C7 disc herniation controls the arms, the shoulders, the heart, the lungs, and more.
How long is recovery from cervical spine surgery?
It may take 4 to 6 weeks to get back to your usual activities. How long it takes depends on what kind of surgery you had. Your doctor may advise you to work with a physiotherapist to strengthen the muscles around your neck and back.