Life After... Spinal injury What is spinal cord injury The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and is made up of a thick bundle of nerves. These nerves carry messages from our brain to the rest of our body. These messages help our body move, feel pressure and control vital functions like breathing. When the spinal cord is damaged, communication between our brain and the rest of the body is disrupted. This can sometimes result in the loss of feeling or movement below the level of injury. Spinal cord injury is often caused by a serious accident or infection. How will spinal cord injury affect my body? The higher up you damage the spinal cord, the more movement and sensation will be lost Damage in your back can result in paraplegia Damage in your neck can result to tetraplegia Loss of movement and sensation will vary from person-to-person. When will I get better? It make take up to to two years for you to reach your full potential following your injury. It is important to note that there is no repair for spinal cord injury. Rehabilitation Here at BASIC we have a number of clients who have suffered a range of spinal cord injuries. The BodyBasic Assisted gym is a brilliant way to exercise atrophied muscles and slow down muscle loss. Further Information For more information about spinal injury please contact our rehabilitation team by email: [email protected] or call the office on 0161 707 6441.