National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Spinal Cord Diseases is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Spinal Cord Diseases
Your spinal cord is the part of your nervous system that relays messages to and from your brain. It is housed inside your vertebrae, which are the bone disks that make up your spine. Normally, your vertebrae protect your spinal cord. If they don't, you can sustain a spinal cord injury. Besides injuries, the spinal cord can develop
- Tumors
- Infections such as meningitis and poliomyelitis
- Inflammatory diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy
Symptoms vary but might include pain, numbness, loss of sensation and muscle weakness. These symptoms can occur around the spinal cord, and also in other areas such as your arms and legs. Treatments vary but often include medicines and surgery.
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
- No links available
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
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Overviews
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Brain and Spinal Tumors(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- Overview of Spinal Cord Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Brain and Spinal Tumors
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Discography(North American Spine Society)
- Electrodiagnostic Testing(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- MRI of the Spine(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Tests for Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Treatment
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Childhood Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
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Specific Conditions
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Brain and Spinal Tumors: Hope through Research(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Brown-Sequard Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Central Pain Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy (Spinal Cord Compression)(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
- Detailed Guide: Brain/CNS (Spinal Cord) Tumors in Adults(American Cancer Society)
- Also available in Spanish
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Hydromyelia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
- Spinal Infections(North American Spine Society)
- Spinal Tumor(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Stiff-Person Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Tabes Dorsalis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Tarlov Cysts(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Tethered Spinal Cord Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Transverse Myelitis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Also available in Spanish
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Transverse Myelitis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
- Short Summary
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Brain and Spinal Tumors: Hope through Research
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Related Issues
- Dressing with Ease, Style and Comfort(ALS Association) - PDF
- Return to top
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Atlas of Human Body: The Nervous System -- Groups of Nerves(American Medical Association)
- Spine Basics(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Cord Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Cord Diseases
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Caudal regression syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Caudal regression syndrome
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Research
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Cancer Advances in Focus: Brain and Other Central Nervous System Cancers(National Cancer Institute)
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Cancer Advances in Focus: Brain and Other Central Nervous System Cancers
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Definitions(North American Spine Society)
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Directories
- Find a Neurologist(American Academy of Neurology)
- Find a Neurosurgeon(Congress of Neurological Surgeons)
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Organizations
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
- Also available in Spanish
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Statistics
- What Are the Key Statistics about Brain and Spinal Cord Cancers?(American Cancer Society)
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Children
- Detailed Guide: Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors in Children(American Cancer Society)
- Return to top
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Patient Handouts
- Epidural abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Spinal cord abscess
- Also available in Spanish
- Spinal tumor
- Also available in Spanish
- Subacute combined degeneration
- Also available in Spanish
- Syphilitic myelopathy
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
Languages
- Arabic (العربية)
- Chinese - Simplified (简体中文)
- Chinese - Traditional (繁體中文)
- French (français)
- Hindi (हिन्दी)
- Japanese (日本語)
- Korean (한국어)
- Russian (Русский)
- Somali (af Soomaali)
- Spanish (español)
Spinal Cord Diseases - Multiple Languages
