A spinal cord injury—damage to any part of the cord or the nerves at the end of the spinal column—can cause permanent changes in the strength, sensation, and other body functions anywhere below the site of the injury. The overall impact of the spinal cord injury depends on two issues: where on the spinal cord the injury occurred and how severe the injury was. The lowest spot on your spinal cord that did not sustain damage is the “neurological level” of your injury. The severity of the injury is called its completeness and will be either: Complete – no feeling and no motor function below the site of the injury Incomplete – some sensation or motor function below the injury site. The incompleteness can vary in degree. The injury may result in any of the following symptoms: Loss of movement or paralysis Loss of or altered feeling, including feeling heat, cold, or touch Spasms Balance problems Changes in sexual function and fertility Loss of bladder or bowel control Chronic pain Difficulty in breathing or coughing