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There are an estimated 40,000 people in the UK living with a spinal cord injury. Every eight hours, someone’s life will change forever. Spinal cord injury affects people of all ages and backgrounds; it can happen to anyone at any time.
Causes
Spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by road traffic accidents, falls, illness or sporting accidents.
Impact
Your spinal cord carries messages between your brain and your body (muscles, skin and organs). The diagram above shows a human spinal column and how damage to the spinal cord is classified. Spinal cord injury is sudden and the impact on an individual can be huge. It is not just about a loss of mobility but also the effect on bodily functions. Aside from the physical impact, spinal cord injury can have a significant psychological impact on the person with the injury and their family.
Depression and anxiety are not uncommon in those affected by spinal cord injury. Many people feel that the things most important to them in life may never be the same (whether family, relationships, hobbies and recreation, work, social life, travel, or any area of life). It is common to feel uncertain about the future.
At Back Up we understand that a spinal cord injury can be devastating, but we believe that it should not prevent anyone from getting the most out of life.
Click here to see the help we offer.