From the Research
Symptoms of a spinal cord stroke include sudden and severe neck or back pain, muscle weakness or paralysis below the level of the stroke, loss of sensation, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and difficulty with coordination and balance. The symptoms typically develop rapidly, often within minutes to hours, and can affect one or both sides of the body depending on which part of the spinal cord is damaged. Patients may experience numbness, tingling, or loss of temperature sensation in affected areas. Respiratory difficulties can occur if the stroke affects the upper spinal cord.
Key Symptoms
- Sudden and severe neck or back pain
- Muscle weakness or paralysis below the level of the stroke
- Loss of sensation
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction
- Difficulty with coordination and balance The specific symptoms depend on the location of the stroke along the spinal cord - higher injuries affect more bodily functions. Spinal cord strokes are medical emergencies requiring immediate attention, as prompt treatment may help limit damage and improve recovery outcomes. The symptoms result from interrupted blood flow to the spinal cord, causing tissue damage and disrupting the normal transmission of nerve signals between the brain and the body parts controlled by the affected spinal cord segment. According to the most recent study 1, spinal cord stroke is rare, accounting for 0.3-1% of all strokes, and is classified into upper (cervical) and lower (thoracolumbar) strokes. Patients present with severe deficits but later often show good functional improvement.
Risk Factors
- Younger age
- Male gender
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- Elevated blood glucose Treatment of these risk factors is essential in the acute phase. Biphasic spinal cord strokes are seen in one-fifth of the patients, and these present with acute or transient sensory spinal cord deficits often preceded by radiating pain between the shoulders, and should be considered and treated as imminent spinal cord strokes 1.