The most common causes of spinal injuries include road traffic and motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, work and sports accidents as well as assaults and, on occasion, medical negligence Whatever the actual cause of an injury the effect can be traumatic, not only to the sufferer but also to their friends and family

The spinal cord makes up part of the nervous system and runs the length of your neck and back It cord has two main functions within the body, which are to communicate and co-ordinate

Serious brain injury is a catastrophic condition that leaves the victim struggling to cope with life changing effects However, brain injuries differ in that they affect life on multiple levels

Coping with a spinal injury is often a case of ensuring the patient has both immediate care for the initial injury, and then a more long-term plan of rehabilitation, treatment and therapy to cope with the ongoing effects Any impact violent enough to cause damage to the spinal cord will inevitably result in spinal cord injuries

A trip to see the family changes a life Ciaran is a bright, active 19-year-old with a passion for football, and starting out on the first stages of a happy life with his girlfriend They had recently moved into their first home, and both of them enjoyed regular trips to Devon to see their families at weekends

Cognitive Behavoural Therapy After Brain Injury Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in people with traumatic brain injuries Cognitive Behavoural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy which can help people who are experiencing a wide range of mental health issues

Brain and head injury trauma can result in a range of neuropsychological problems Depending on the part of the brain affected and the severity of the injury, the result on any one individual can vary greatly