Today, 13th May is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day!
The day aims to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries, what treatments, care and support are available and have a better understanding of how such injury impacts a person’s life.
The spinal cord is a vital part of our bodies. It is often referred to as the body’s information superhighway as it transports information from the brain to all parts of our body, controlling movements, sensitivity, subconscious processes, blood pressure, bowels and bladder, etc. When the spinal cord is damaged, this informational transport link from the brain to the rest of the body is disrupted, causing you to lose full or partial mobility control and sensation from below the level of injury. The higher the damage is on your spinal cord; the more functions can be impaired.
Types of Spinal Cord Injuries
The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are related to falls, road traffic incidents, sports injuries or illness and infection. Depending on whether the cord is completely or incompletely damaged and what part of it is affected, people may experience mild to severe symptoms affecting different parts of the body – arms, breathing, legs and control of the bowels, bladder and stomach, etc.
The difference between complete and incomplete spinal cord injury is if the cord is sufficiently damaged across the whole of its width or the injury spreads across part of the cord affecting only some areas. Whereas the complete injury leaves a complete loss of sensation and muscle control below the affected areas, the incomplete injury leaves the intact areas of the spinal cord to retain some sensation and/or motor sensory below the affected area.
Depending on what parts of the body are affected by the spinal cord injury, the SPI can be referred to as tetraplegia (quadriplegia) or paraplegia. The first one is when your arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs are all affected by the injury whereas the second one refers to all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs.
As with any other injury, spinal cord injury can affect you physically and emotionally. It is a life-changing experience that affects a person’s everyday life. However, with the right care and support, you can live a fulfilling life.
Living with a Spinal Injury
Losing control over your body is a stressful and mentally exhausting experience. It takes time to accept what happened and understand what that means to your everyday life. According to Spinal Injury Association (SIA), one of the biggest problems of people with spinal cord injuries is experiencing bowel incontinence, which can affect confidence. Another problem is depression and losing a sense of purpose. In addition to that, the most common conditions people with spinal injuries might experience are deep vein thrombosis, urinary tract infections, muscle spasms, osteoporosis, pressure ulcers, chronic pain, and respiratory complications.
However, with the right help, support and information people can have a better understanding of how to live with spinal injury and manage their lives avoiding potential complications. On that note, communication plays a vital role not only in providing the appropriate help and support but also in improving your mental health.
SIA (Spinal Injuries Association) provides help and support to people with spinal cord injuries and/or their families, helping them to navigate through this challenging new chapter of their lives. You can find more information here.
How can we help you?
Our domiciliary care and complex care teams understand how challenging and nerve-racking could be to live with a spinal cord injury. That is why we provide a bespoke care plan designed to your needs while continue to live in the comfort of your own home. We value every one of our clients and provide care with dignity and respect so that they will confident and safe.
As spinal cord injuries can cause lots of anxiety and discomfort, our teams will work together with you and communicate all your concerns and requirements, including how to manage your bowel and bladder through routines, help you dress and bathe, provide complex tasks, or even just be there for you. Get in touch today to find out how we can help you or your loved one.
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