What Are the Effects of a Lumbar Spine Injury?
Injuries to the lumbar spine are severe but not life-threatening. Early treatment is important to the prognosis of lumbar spinal cord damage. Patients with a lumbar spinal cord injury can be independent and care for their own mobility and hygienic needs. Many patients are able to maneuver around in their manual wheelchair and may even be able to walk for short distances. Weakness is the main issue with patients who experience lumbar nerve injuries, so physical therapy is a must in the recovery phase.
Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES), which is often difficult to distinguish from the similarly-located conus medullaris syndrome, affects the lumbar spine and is considered a medical emergency. CES affects the nerves of the lumbar spine, which may cause incontinence and potentially permanent paralysis of the legs. Patient’s symptoms may come on slowly, but once it is diagnosed, it requires immediate surgery.
*Learn more about Cauda Equina Syndrome or Conus Medullaris Syndrome.
Lumbar Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
Patients with lumbar spinal cord injuries may experience:
- Paraplegia with functional independence
- The need for a manual wheelchair for part-time or full-time use
- Ability to ambulate using braces or other walking devices
- Lack of control of bowels or bladder
What Are the Causes of Lumbar Spine Injuries?
The most common causes spinal cord injuries at the lumbar level are:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Trauma
- Falls
- Birth defect
- Degeneration
- Osteoporosis
Different Lumbar Spinal Cord Injuries
There are several types of spinal cord injury that can affect the lumbar spine:
Sacralization
Where lumbarization is the presence of an extra bone in the lumbar spinal column due to the failure of the first and second sacral spine to fuse, sacralization is the fusing of the L5 vertebra with the sacral spine.
This condition frequently has no noticeable symptoms. In fact, people can live their whole lives without realizing that they have sacralization of their L5 vertebra. When symptoms do occur, they often include arthritis, reduced range of motion (because of the fused bone), and/or pain in the legs or buttocks.
Generally speaking, sacralization is very mild. But, it can exacerbate other spinal cord injury types.
Cysts
Some spinal injuries can cause cysts to develop inside the spinal column. These fluid-filled sacs can put pressure on spinal nerves—causing pain, loss of sensation, or loss of function at the injury site.
Hopkinsmedicine.org notes that the “joints in the lumbar region” of the spine are particularly susceptible to developing spinal cysts. These cysts are most often caused by repetitive motion stress injuries (i.e. carpal tunnel syndrome). Such cysts can be identified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, but most doctors will probably start with an X-ray to rule out other conditions, such as spinal fractures.
Fractures
When the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord and spinal nerves are fractured or dislocated, bone shards can damage or pinch the spinal nerves/cord. These fractures are most often the result of traumatic force—such as falls, gunshots, or physical blows—being applied to the spine.
Fractures carry a high risk of causing complete spinal cord injuries—preventing any signals from the central nervous system from reaching below the injury site. As such, all fractures should be handled with extreme caution to prevent worsening a lumbar SCI.
Treatments for Lumbar Spine Injuries
Current treatments available for spinal cord patients with lumbar injuries include:
- Drugs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs are used in treating spinal cord injuries. The quicker these drugs are initiated after injury, the better the result for the patient by reducing inflammation around the spinal cord.
- Surgery: Surgical decompression of the nerves and fusion of the vertebrae are done to reduce pressure around the spinal nerves, and fixate the spinal column around the spinal cord injury. This can help to restore some function in a person’s lower back anatomy, especially by removing cysts.
- Therapy: Physical therapy is done to encourage strength in the areas that are affected by spinal cord damage, as well as maintain function in the non-affected area. In some cases, therapy has helped to restore lumbar vertebrae function in partial SCIs by helping people relearn how to use their bodies. Occupational therapy is done to aid in patient aid the patient in learning to function after suffering spinal cord damage.
It’s important to know that not every spinal cord injury and treatment will affect a person’s lumbar vertebrae anatomy in the same way. In some cases, treatment may not produce any noticeable improvement in lumbar SCI symptoms. Meanwhile, another person undergoing the same exact combination of drugs, surgery, and therapy might see marked improvement.
When dealing with a lumbar spinal cord injury—or helping a loved one to cope—it’s necessary to be patient and to take things one day at a time.
It can also help to look for SCI support groups. These groups are filled with people who have been in the same situations and overcome them—and may have great advice for helping you do the same. They can help recommend mobility assistance solutions, exercise regimens, and more that can help people living with lumbar SCIs lead healthy, active, and fulfilling lives.
Sources:
- Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, Shepherd Center.
- Spinal Cord Injury, Mayo Clinic.
- Common Lumbar Spine Injuries, Balmain Sports Medicine.
- Treatment for Spine Injuries, Heartland Spine Institute.
