The base, or lower part, of the brain is connected to the spinal cord. Together, the brain and spinal cord are known as the central nervous system (CNS). Many nerves send electrical signals to and from the brain and spinal cord.

The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves strands that branch off from the left and right sides of the spinal cord through openings between each vertebra on the spinal canal. These nerve pairs spread throughout your body to deliver commands from your brain and spinal cord to and from parts of your body.

The transfer of information from neuron to neuron takes place through the release of chemical substances into the space between the axon and the dendrites. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters, and the process is called neurotransmission. The space between the axon and the dendrites is called the synapse.

Sensory nerves send information such as touch, temperature, and pain to the brain and spinal cord. Motor nerves send signals from the brain back into the muscles, causing them to contract either voluntarily or reflexively.

Unlike other parts of your body, the spinal cord does not have the ability to repair itself if it is damaged. A spinal cord injury occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord either from trauma, loss of its normal blood supply, or compression from tumor or infection.

Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Disorder

• Weakness or paralysis of limbs.
• Loss of sensation.
• Changes in reflexes.
• Loss of urinary or bowel control.
• Uncontrolled muscle spasms.
• Back pain.

11 Ways to Indulge Your Spine

1. Make exercise a lifestyle.
2. Engage your mind.
3. Reevaluate your sitting posture.
4. Go for a walk to help support your spine.
5. Soothe your pain with heat therapy.
6. Match your pillow to your sleeping position.
7. Choose your food wisely.
8. Exercise in a pool.

If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of ‘rest’ following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.

People who survive severe spinal cord injuries often experience life-long disability. Adult nerve cells in the spinal cord don’t regrow after damage. Why they don’t, and how they might be encouraged to do so, have been areas of extensive research. Axons require a great deal of energy to regrow.

MRI is sensitive to changes in cartilage and bone structure resulting from injury, disease, or aging. It can detect herniated discs, pinched nerves, spinal tumors, spinal cord compression, and fractures.

A neurologist is a medical doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), concussion, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.

During your first appointment, a Neurologist will likely ask you to participate in a physical exam and neurological exam. Neurological exams are tests that measure muscle strength, sensation, reflexes, and coordination. Because of the complexity of the nervous system, you may be asked to undergo further testing.

A neurological exam checks for disorders of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made of your brain, spinal cord, and nerves from these areas. It controls and coordinates everything you do, including muscle movement, organ function, and even complex thinking and planning.

A neurological exam, also called a neuro exam, is an evaluation of a person’s nervous system that can be done in the healthcare provider’s office. It may be done with instruments, such as lights and reflex hammers. It usually does not cause any pain to the patient.

A neurological exam tests the twelve cranial nerves by subtly dissociating their functions. Shining a small flashlight into one eye, for example, can distinguish between damage to CN II (the optic nerve) and damage to CN III (the oculomotor nerve).

If you or a loved one has unexplained symptoms that could be related to the brain or nervous system, your doctor may recommend a neurological exam with a specialist. Neurologists are specialists who treat diseases of the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles.