Spinal Cord Injury Symptoms
Specific syndromes seen after SCI and damage to the ANS are spinal shock and autonomic dysreflexia.
Spinal Shock
occurs immediately after injury and is characterized by flaccid paralysis, loss of reflex activity below the level of the lesion, bradycardia, hypotension and occasionally paralytic ileus.
Autonomic Dysreflexia
is usually seen in injuries above the level of the sixth thoracic vertebra. It generally occurs after the period of spinal shock is completed. Key features are: severe, rapidly occurring HTN, bradycardia, flushing above level of lesion, severe, throbbing headache, nasal stuffiness, sweating, nausea, blurred vision.