Surviving a spinal cord injury and facing the long road to recovery both physically and emotionally can be incredibly difficult. Even with the best medical care and support system, regaining functioning and independence takes immense courage and perseverance.
Causes of Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries (SCI) most often occur unexpectedly as the result of traumatic accidents or events. The leading causes include:
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Falls
- Violence like gunshot wounds or stabbings
- Recreational activities and sports
- Medical/surgical complications
The extent of the spinal cord damage and the location of the injury along the spine determine the types and severity of functional impairments someone will experience.
Immediate Emergency Treatment
When a traumatic spinal cord injury occurs, immediate emergency medical attention is vital to prevent further damage and loss of function. Doctors will work quickly to stabilize and transport the victim to a hospital equipped with specialists trained in treating SCIs.
- Securing airway, breathing, and blood circulation
- Immobilizing the head, neck, and back
- Administering IV fluids and medications
- Conducting imaging tests to assess the injury
- Preparing patient for transfer to trauma center
The First Few Weeks After a Spinal Cord Injury
The early days and weeks after the initial spinal cord trauma are extremely difficult emotionally and medically. Once stabilized, the patient is admitted to a specialty acute SCI unit. The priorities are preventing and managing medical complications as the body copes with paralysis and loss of function below the level of injury.
Some of the common medical concerns include:
Respiratory Complications
Those with higher level SCIs often can’t breathe effectively on their own and require mechanical ventilators. Pneumonia is also common if lung function is impaired. Airway suctioning and breath training help manage breathing challenges.
Cardiovascular Issues
With loss of muscle movement, blood doesn’t circulate as effectively, increasing the risks of blood clots, low blood pressure, and irregular heart rhythms. Compression devices are often used to improve circulation in paralyzed limbs.
Loss of Bladder/Bowel Control
Nerve damage preventing normal bladder and bowel function means a catheter is necessary to drain urine. Establishing an effective bowel program is also essential. Learning self-catheterization empowers the patient long-term.
Skin Breakdown
Limited mobility significantly increases risks of pressure wounds and sores. Regular repositioning and cushioning eases pressure while keeping skin dry and inspection helps catch sores early to prevent infections.
Other concerns requiring close monitoring and management include gastrointestinal issues, blood sugar changes, swollen limbs, severe nerve pain, and depression. The medical team works aggressively to keep the patient as stable and pain-free as possible while recovery progresses.
Rehabilitation Therapies
As the patient medically stabilizes, rehabilitation commences with mobility training, self-care skills, and more based on the nature and severity of spinal cord damage. The inpatient rehab program builds the physical strength needed for maximum independence.
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Proper positioning, assisted movement, stretching and splints prevent joint problems like contractures. Mobility training starts small, working up to using adapted devices like wheelchairs appropriately sized to the patient. Occupational therapists guide self-care skill development like feeding, dressing, and grooming adaptations. The goal is empowering self-sufficiency despite limited mobility.
Bowel and Bladder Retraining
Establishing a schedule and techniques for catheter use and bowel movements prevents accidents and infections. Biofeedback training helps strengthen sphincter muscles promoting continence.
Respiratory Exercises
Breathing techniques and devices aid coughing to clear secretions reducing pneumonia risks. Methods to ease breathing challenges are also taught.
Building Core Strength
Physical training focuses on strengthening core abdominal and back muscles providing critical torso support whether walking or wheelchair mobility. This alleviates strain, fatigue, and secondary injuries.
Regaining Function Through Activity
Newly injured spinal cord patients often struggle emotionally and lack hope facing profound life changes. Specialized therapies and training foster independence, self-confidence and positivity.
Aquatic Therapy
Water mobility training improves strength, balance, and coordination in a zero-gravity environment. The warmth and massage benefits also ease muscle stiffness and spasticity.
Functional Electrical Stimulation
Electrical pulses prompt paralyzed muscles to contract at key phases while walking or hand grasping. This muscle reeducation can help regain mobility milestones.
Assisted Walking on Treadmills/Robotic Exoskeletons
Harness systems provide body weight support and balance assistance needed to start walking after paralysis. Robotic leg braces can facilitate stepping motions preparing muscles and nerves.
Hand/Arm Function Activities
Gripping various shapes and sizes along with repetitive hand movements strengthens grasp while improving coordination and dexterity. Adapted devices aid those with arm paralysis to feed or bathe independently.
Recreational Therapy
Sports, games, arts, and community outings aid both physical and emotional recuperation keeping mood and motivation more positive. Social interaction and peer support is especially helpful.
Transition Back to Home Life
Discharge from inpatient rehabilitation marks a major milestone, but continuing rigorous therapy as an outpatient is necessary. Learning to steer a wheelchair, accessible home modifications, driving evaluations and returning to work come next.
Home/Outpatient Therapies
Multidisciplinary home health teams support the transition to managing medical needs while advancing independent mobility skills. Further adaptive equipment and accessibility tools improve safety and self-care at home.
Support Groups and Peer Mentoring
Connecting with those who’ve gone through similar spinal cord rehabilitation provides emotional support and encouragement. Peer injury role models demonstrate that life enjoyment is absolutely possible.
Rejoining Community Life
Progressing from home confinement to community integration delivers freedom and control back to the spinal cord injury survivor. Driving evaluations, job accommodations and barrier modifications allow fuller participation.
Adaptive Sports and Recreation
Discovering adapted sports, hobbies and physical activities promotes lifelong physical fitness tailored to remaining abilities. Hand-cycles, aquatic wheelchairs and more let patients thrive beyond therapy.
Working through the intense grief and identity challenges follows the physical recuperation phase. But resilient SCI survivors describe incredible psychological growth and maturity from traversing difficult rehabilitation. Support groups aid the emotional journey tremendously.
Seeking Legal Help After a Devastating Spinal Cord Injury
The emotional and financial costs of surviving a catastrophic spinal cord injury often require extensive litigation if it was caused by the negligence or misconduct of other parties. An experienced personal injury attorney guides injured patients and families through the legal process of:
- Investigating accident causes
- Assessing liability of defendants
- Documenting immediate and lifelong medical damages
- Maximizing compensation for losses/hardships through settlement negotiations or trial
Those suffering traumatic SCIs shouldn’t shoulder the enormous burdens alone. Instead, call us today for a free consultation on (415) 352-6264.
Or visit our office at 536 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133.