Symptoms of paraplegia

Symptoms depend on the level and extent of the spinal cord damage.

Main symptoms

• Weakness or loss of movement in both legs
• Loss or change of feeling in the legs and lower body, including touch, pain and temperature
• Muscle changes: stiffness and spasms (spastic) or floppiness (flaccid), later muscle wasting
• Loss of bladder control: retention or leakage
• Loss of bowel control: constipation or incontinence
• Sexual dysfunction
• Back pain at the level of injury and nerve pain such as burning or tingling below it

Other effects

• Poor balance when sitting if the trunk muscles are affected
• Low blood pressure when sitting up
• Poor control of sweating and temperature
• Pressure sores from long sitting or lying
• Mood changes, anxiety or low mood

Warning signs of complications

• Autonomic dysreflexia (in injuries at about T6 and above): sudden severe headache, pounding heart, sweating above the injury, flushed face and very high blood pressure. This is an emergency.
• Fever, burning urine or cloudy urine
• Red or broken skin over bony areas
• One swollen, painful leg (possible clot)

Ayurvedic view

Traditional texts describe loss of strength, numbness and loss of function in the lower limbs as Vata disorders. This is an interpretive description.

Emergency: call 112 for sudden leg weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe headache with very high blood pressure in a person with spinal injury.

See a doctor if weakness, numbness or spasms get worse.

Remember

New symptoms need prompt checking. Many complications are preventable with daily care.