Spinal Cord Injury

Key facts

• A spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when trauma or disease damages the nerve tissue running through the spine, disrupting signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
• The level and completeness of the injury determine what is lost, ranging from partial weakness to full paralysis below the site of damage.
• Spasticity, involuntary muscle stiffness and spasms, is one of the most common and disruptive after-effects, and is treated with baclofen, which acts directly on the spinal cord to reduce abnormal muscle tone.
• A sudden worsening of spasms, a sharp rise in blood pressure with headache and sweating, or new loss of function all need urgent medical assessment.

What a spinal cord injury does to the body

The spinal cord carries every signal that passes between the brain and the body below the neck. When trauma, a fall, an accident, a violent impact, or disease damages that cord, the signals below the injury site are disrupted or lost. How much function is affected depends on where the injury sits and whether it is complete or incomplete: injuries higher up the spine tend to affect more of the body, and a complete injury blocks signals entirely, while an incomplete one leaves some function intact.

Managing spasticity after injury

One of the most disruptive consequences of SCI is spasticity, involuntary muscle stiffness, spasms, and tightening that interferes with movement, sleep, and daily care. Baclofen acts on the spinal cord itself to reduce this abnormal muscle tone and is a well-established treatment for spasticity following SCI. It is usually started at a low dose and adjusted gradually to balance symptom control against side effects like drowsiness or weakness. Broader pain management typically combines medicines with physical therapy, positioning, and stretching routines tailored to the individual's injury level and remaining function.

When to see a doctor

Anyone with a spinal cord injury who experiences a sudden worsening of spasms, a sharp rise in blood pressure accompanied by headache and sweating (a sign of autonomic dysreflexia), or new loss of movement or sensation should seek urgent medical assessment. These can signal a complication that needs prompt attention rather than routine follow-up.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.