Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)

Some common symptoms that people may experience are:

• Loss of Movement: You might find it challenging to move specific parts of your body, especially below the level of the injury. Symptoms can range from a weakening of muscle strength to complete paralysis.
• Altered Sensation: You may notice changes in how you feel touch, temperature, or pain. Some areas below the injury might feel numb or have a decreased sensitivity to stimuli.
• Pain or Discomfort: Some individuals experience pain or an intense stinging sensation from the damage to nerve fibers in the spinal cord. This can include neuropathic pain, which feels like burning, tingling, or shooting pains.
• Reduced Control over Bladder and Bowel Functions: The injury might affect your ability to control your bladder and bowels, leading to incontinence or the need for alternative methods to manage these functions.
• Changes in Sexual Function: Depending on your injury, you might experience changes in sexual function, sensitivity, or fertility. These changes can affect men and women and involve physical and emotional adjustments.
• Difficulty Breathing or Coughing: If the injury is in the upper part of your spinal cord, it might affect the muscles that control breathing or coughing, making these actions more difficult.
• Spasms or Increased Reflex Actions: You might notice involuntary movements or exaggerated reflexes below the level of the injury.

Every person’s experience with SCI is unique, and your symptoms can change over time, especially during the early stages of recovery and rehabilitation. The goal of your care team is to manage these symptoms effectively, improving your comfort and quality of life.

Management strategies include medication, physical therapy, use of assistive devices, and sometimes surgery, depending on your specific symptoms and needs.

Here’s an overview of the types of treatments that may be available:

• Immediate Care: Right after the injury, the focus is stabilizing your vital signs, preventing shock, and ensuring you can breathe. Use of a ventilator may be necessary if your breathing is affected.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery is necessary to remove fragments of bones, foreign objects, herniated disks, or fractured vertebrae that are compressing the spine. Surgery can also help stabilize the spine to prevent future pain or deformity.
• Medication: Some medications can help manage symptoms or improve outcomes. For example, your doctor may give you corticosteroid drugs shortly after the injury to reduce inflammation and prevent further damage. Other medications can help manage pain, bladder and bowel control, and muscle spasticity.
• Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation therapy is a cornerstone of SCI treatment. A team of specialists, including physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and rehabilitation nurses, will work with you to:
  • Develop strength and flexibility
  • Learn new techniques to accomplish daily tasks
  • Use assistive devices if needed
  • Adapt to changes in sexual function and manage fertility issues
• Ongoing Care: Managing your health after an SCI involves regular check-ups and monitoring to prevent complications such as pressure sores, urinary tract infections, or blood clots. It also includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular exercise adapted to your abilities.
• Psychological Support: Adjusting to life after an SCI can be challenging, not just physically but emotionally and socially. Support from psychologists, counselors, or peer support groups can be invaluable in helping you and your loved ones adapt to these changes.
• Emerging Treatments: Research on spinal cord injury is ongoing, and new treatments are being developed. This includes advanced technologies like electrical stimulation devices, robotics, and potential biological treatments like stem cell therapy, which aim to restore some function or improve mobility.

The goal is to tailor a treatment plan that fits your specific needs and objectives, focusing on enhancing your independence and overall quality of life. We’re here to support you through every step of your journey, from acute care to long-term management and rehabilitation.

Neuro-Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury rehabilitation is a critical process designed to help you achieve the highest possible level of independence and quality of life after your injury. It’s a personalized program that begins soon after your injury and can continue for months or even years, depending on your specific needs. Here’s a brief overview of what it involves:

• Physical Therapy: Aims to strengthen your muscles, improve mobility, and increase flexibility. It’s about helping you move as effectively as possible, whether that’s walking, using a wheelchair, or performing daily tasks with more ease.
• Occupational Therapy: Focuses on everyday activities, from dressing and bathing to using technology and cooking. The goal is to help you adapt to your injury and regain as much independence as possible.
• Speech and Language Therapy: If your injury affects your ability to speak or swallow, this therapy helps you regain these skills or learn new communication methods.
• Psychological Support: Adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury can be challenging. Counseling or therapy can provide emotional support and help you develop coping strategies.
• Education: Learning about your injury, how to prevent complications, and how to manage your health, including how to use any medications or equipment you may need, is crucial to rehabilitation.
• Vocational Rehabilitation: If you plan to return to work, vocational rehabilitation can help you identify suitable employment and may offer training for new skills.
• Adaptive Technologies and Equipment: Wheelchairs, voice-activated computers, and other devices can help you maintain independence and improve your quality of life.

Your rehabilitation team will work closely with you and your family to create a plan tailored to your goals and needs. It’s a collaborative effort aimed at helping you adapt to changes, overcome challenges, and lead a fulfilling life post-injury.