FreeMD® Spinal Cord Injury Warning Signs

Spinal Cord Injury

Warning Signs

Spinal Cord Injury Warning Signs

Notify your doctor for:

Abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling
Hematuria:

Blood in the urine
Red or pink urine

Cloudy urine
Excessive sweating
Fainting
Repeated vomiting
Inability to urinate
Worsening difficulty breathing
Fever over 101 degrees F (38.3 C)
Worsening neck pain
Worsening back pain
Worsening arm pain
Worsening leg pain
Leg swelling
Worsening weakness:

Arm weakness (unilateral)
Arm weakness (bilateral)
Leg weakness (unilateral)
Leg weakness (bilateral)

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Related Conditions

Neck fracture
Spinal canal stenosis
Spinal compression fracture
Spinal cord compression
Spinal cord shock

UTI Checkup

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Back injury
Neck injury

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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2009 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Spinal Cord Injury References:

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Croft AC, Herring P, Freeman MD, Haneline MT. The neck injury criterion: future considerations. Accid Anal Prev. 2002 Mar;34(2):247-55.
Hendey GW, Wolfson AB, Mower WR, Hoffman JR; National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study Group. Spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality: results of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study in blunt cervical trauma. J Trauma. 2002 Jul;53(1):1-4.
Hoffman JR, Wolfson AB, Todd K, Mower WR. Selective cervical spine radiography in blunt trauma: methodology of the National Emergency X-Radiography Utilization Study (NEXUS). Ann Emerg Med. 1998 Oct;32(4):461-9.
Joslin CC, Khan SN, Bannister GC. Long-term disability after neck injury. a comparative study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004 Sep;86(7):1032-4.
Kerr D, Bradshaw L, Kelly AM. Implementation of the Canadian C-spine rule reduces cervical spine x-ray rate for alert patients with potential neck injury. J Emerg Med. 2005 Feb;28(2):127-31.
McDonald JW, Becker D, Sadowsky CL, Jane JA Sr, Conturo TE, Schultz LM. Late recovery following spinal cord injury. Case report and review of the literature. J Neurosurg. 2002 Sep;97(2 Suppl):252-65.
McIntosh AS, McCrory P. Preventing head and neck injury. Br J Sports Med. 2005 Jun;39(6):314-8. Review.
North NT. The psychological effects of spinal cord injury: a review. Spinal Cord. 1999 Oct;37(10):671-9.
Short DJ, El Masry WS, Jones PW. High dose methylprednisolone in the management of acute spinal cord injury - a systematic review from a clinical perspective. Spinal Cord. 2000 May;38(5):273-86.
Smith D, McMurray N, Disler P. Early intervention for acute back injury: can we finally develop an evidence-based approach? Clin Rehabil. 2002 Feb;16(1):1-11.
Yasuda S, Wehman P, Targett P, Cifu DX, West M. Return to work after spinal cord injury: a review of recent research. NeuroRehabilitation. 2002;17(3):177-86.