How does brain injury affect family members?
For most family members, life is not the same after TBI. We want you to know that you are not alone in what you are feeling. While everyone's situation is a bit different, there are some common problems that many family members experience such ...
Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD), sometimes referred to as Autonomic Hyperreflexia, is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience when there is a pain or discomfort below their level of injury, even if the pain or discomfort cannot be felt.
Are you thinking about getting pregnant?
Having a spinal cord injury (SCI) does not affect your ability to naturally become pregnant, carry, and deliver a baby, so your decision to have children is made in much the same way as anyone else. You consider the demands and challenges of parenting and ...
What you need to know
Your vision is important for many aspects of life.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause problems with your vision.
Treatment can either fix the problem completely, improve your vision, or help you better manage the problem.
What is vision and why is it important?
We often think about vision as ...
Pain and discomfort are an unfortunate part of burn injury and recovery. Many of our patients tell us that ongoing pain continues to be a problem long after discharge from the hospital.
What do I need to know?
Individuals with SCI are at high risk for developing pressure sores.
Pressure sores can be life threatening.
Possible complications:
Infections can develop and spread to the blood, heart and bone.
Amputations
Prolonged bed rest necessary for healing can keep you out of work, school and social activities for months.
Because ...
What does the respiratory system do?
Your respiratory system (or pulmonary system) is responsible for breathing. This system enables you to inhale oxygen into your blood and exhale carbon dioxide. Your body needs the oxygen to survive, and carbon dioxide must be removed to avoid the build-up of acid in your ...
A burn injury causes stress to your body. Your heart and lungs may not work as well as before. Your muscles and bones may not be as strong. Remember that muscles get weak or smaller when they are not used—being on bed rest probably caused you to lose some muscle. ...
Depression is common and can affect anyone. Depression is even more common in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population. Estimated rates of depression among people with SCI range from 11% to 37%.
Can paralysis caused by spinal cord injury be reversed?
Everyone wants to know if there is a “cure” for spinal cord injury (SCI). There continues to be significant progress made toward this goal, but, despite any claim that there is a cure, there is currently no cure or proven way to ...
Many factors may cause body image concerns after a burn injury. These include how a person feels about his or her burns; flawed coping strategies; and a person’s gender, mental health history, and support network.
The sun has many beneficial properties, but the sun emits three types of ultraviolet (UV) light that can harm skin and has been linked to skin cancers (basal and squamous carcinoma, melanoma) and vision problems (cataracts and macular degeneration). Healed burns, donor sites, and skin grafts are more sensitive to ...
What is sexuality?
Your sexuality is what guides your natural desire to bond with others through love, affection, and intimacy. Here are a few ways you might express your sexuality.
Emotional connections — feeling close to someone.
Physical contact — acts of touching such as holding hands, hugging, kissing, cuddling, and sexual activity.
Sexual ...
Returning to work after a burn injury can be an important phase of recovery that helps you return to a routine. Work not only provides you with an income and other benefits, but can also give you a sense of purpose and confidence that is critical in maintaining a higher ...
Your wheelchair is an important part of your life, so you want to make sure you end up with the right wheelchair that fits your body, preferences, activities and lifestyle.
Wheelchair seating technology is a complex and rapidly changing industry, with new types of wheelchairs and components coming on the market ...
Although some of the relationship changes after TBI are difficult and can be painful, there are many things that couples can do in order to enjoy each other and their relationship in new, positive, and meaningful ways.
What do I need to know?
Ninety-five percent of all pressure sores are preventable!
After spinal cord injury, your skin requires daily care and a lot of attention.
You will need to spend time daily cleaning the skin, keeping it dry (from incontinence or perspiration), checking the skin for problems or changes, moving ...
How common are sleep problems following a TBI?
Many people who have brain injuries suffer from sleep disturbances. Not sleeping well can increase or worsen depression, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and one's sense of well-being. It can also lead to poor work performance and traffic or workplace accidents. A review of sleep ...
Learn how to take care of a wound after burn injury. This factsheet gives an overview of the three degrees of burns and the standard treatments for each.