Brain Injury
One-quarter to one-half of all people with spinal cord injury [SCI] also have had a brain injury, either at the time of their SCI or earlier in their lives. A blow to the head can occur in a motor vehicle collision, a fall, or a blast; when the head is struck by an object; or in other ways. Often, there are no lasting symptoms from a mild injury to the head, but sometimes the force is severe and the brain is permanently injured. In a brain injury the brain may be shaken around and get bruised from hitting the inside of the skull. Like a black-and-blue mark on your arm or leg, this will heal over time. The brain has many thousands of long, thin nerve fibers. Some of these nerves can be damaged in an injury. Also, the brain has blood vessels that can tear and bleed into or around it. Finally, the injury might interrupt the flow of oxygen to your brain for a period of time.