Cervical Cord Neurapraxia: My Experiences With a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

While there are many positive outcomes that may benefit the individual through participation in athletics, there are also dangers that the athlete assumes at all levels of every sport. Football is a game that involves high-impact collisions between participants on nearly every play, frequently resulting in injury to the participant. Spinal cord injuries are a current hot topic in regards to football injuries, with participants suffering from spinal injuries ranging in severity. The focus of this Senior Individualized Project is to provide a personal narrative of a spinal cord injury, Cervical Cord Neurapraxia, I sustained as a member of the Kalamazoo College Football team during my sophomore season. Despite this diagnosis, my story poses as an interesting anomaly to the sports medicine and athletic world. My account of the injury, from the time of onset, through the recovery period, to the current status of the injury will be described. Additionally, my thoughts, reflections, and struggles with CCN will be conveyed.