Spinal Cord Injury  is damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling. Spinal cord injuries occur in a variety of contexts but are most commonly associated with motor vehicle accidents and falling accidents. These injuries are almost always very serious. Most often, victims are left with some degree of paralysis and a lifetime of medical and personal care needs. The victims' families must care now for their loved one in a way they never expected to.

Spinal cord injuries of any kind may result in one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

• Loss of movement
• Loss of sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
• Loss of bowel or bladder control
• Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
• Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility
• Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibers in your spinal cord
• Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs