What You Need to Know Before Choosing an Inpatient Rehabilitation Center
After a spinal cord injury (SCI), people need rehabilitation (rehab) to help them reach the highest level of functional independence. Many health care facilities offer rehab programs, but a limited number have expertise and experience in SCI rehab care. ...
Adjustment is how you adapt to or become used to changes in your life. CI affects almost every aspect of your life when it happens, and it can be hard to put your life back in order and adjust to living with SCI.
The Spinal Cord Injury Model System (SCIMS) Program began in 1970 to improve care and outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). There are currently 18 SCIMS centers funded.
Fast Facts
The estimated number of people with SCI living in the United States is approximately 299,000 persons, with a range from ...
Pain is a serious problem for many people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Pain after SCI can occur in parts of the body where there is normal sensation (feeling) as well as areas that have little or no feeling.
People with SCI are more likely than the general population to have health problems related to not being active. Regular exercise can help to reduce the risk of health problems after SCI.
What you need to know?
Your spinal cord injury (SCI) might limit your ability to control your urine. You might not be able to stop urine from flowing, or you might not be able to release it.
Uncontrolled urination or inability to empty your bladder can have a negative effect on your ...
What you need to know
Low bone density occurs when the body loses too much bone. This causes weak bones that are easier to break. Bone loss can occur immediately after spinal cord injury (SCI) and can continue rapidly for several years after the injury. The medical term for low bone ...
What is a urinary tract infection?
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in your urinary system. This system includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
What causes UTI?
The most common cause of UTI starts when bacteria enter the bladder through the urethra. The bacteria may multiply in the bladder to ...
Difficulty walking is very common following a spinal cord injury (SCI). People with SCI may have gait training included in their therapy plans. Gait training is practicing walking with assistive devices, braces and other types of support as needed.
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 ...
Overview
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center’s (MSKTC’s) Ambassador Program connects people who are passionate about improving the lives of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and burn injuries. Ambassadors take part in research activities, help create and test MSKTC resources, and share these free resources with ...
If you have an SCI, adaptive sports and recreation may be key to your lifelong wellness. These activities may also help you to engage with your community.
Keys to Successful Aging
People with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are living longer. As a result, they may need to find ways to promote and maintain their health throughout their lives. For people with an SCI, successful aging involves taking care of physical, emotional, and social health; maintaining as much independence ...
Spasticity is the uncontrolled tightening or contracting of the muscles that is common in individuals with spinal cord injuries. About 65%–78% of the SCI population have some amount of spasticity, and it is more common in cervical (neck) than thoracic (chest) and lumbar (lower back) injuries.
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.
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%.
What Is Nutrition?
Nutrition is the way your body uses the six major nutrients needed for health and function.
Water
Fats
Protein
Vitamins
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Why Is Nutrition Important?
Your body changes after spinal cord injury (SCI). There is usually reduced muscle and bone mass, added fat, and other changes that make it critical to follow a healthy diet ...
What you need to know?
Your ability to control urine release may be limited because of injury. You may not be able to stop urine from flowing out of your body, or you may not be able to release urine from your body.
The inability to control the release of urine is ...
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 ...
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 ...