Spinal Cord Injury - Tips for Rebuilding Your Life

 

It has been said that the human spirit can triumph over any adversity. Resilience shines through at the most unlikely of times, helping us get through devastating setbacks. And one of the most cataclysmic events a person can face, affecting them both physically and mentally, is an injury that alters their very functioning.

An example of this is when the primary conduit of the body’s nerve impulses, the Spinal Cord, is injured. Due to the specialized nature of the spine, any damage to it requires intensive care and extensive therapy to overcome. 

Spinal Cord Injury is caused by mutilations to the Spinal Cord that cause reversible or irreversible changes in its function. Patients often feel that all aspects of their lives — physical, emotional, and social — have been affected. 

The best Spinal Cord Injury treatment helps patients by treating both their physical symptoms as well as any mental health problems that may arise due to their injuries. 

In this post, we take a look at the causes and symptoms of this condition, as well as how to adapt to a normal life after suffering such an injury. 

Causes and Symptoms

The top causes of Spinal Cord Injuries, according to The National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, are vehicular accidents, falls, acts of violence, sports injuries, and others. Symptoms depend on the site and severity of injury. 

Some of the common signs can include the following:

• Reduced ability to move

• Loss of or altered sensations, including ability to feel heat, cold, and touch

• Loss of bowel or bladder control

• Exaggerated reflexes or body spasms

• Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity, and fertility

• Presence of pain or an intense stinging sensation 

• Difficulty in breathing, coughing, or clearing secretions from the lungs

Adjusting after a Spinal Cord Injury 

A Spinal Cord Injury can turn a person’s world upside down. Each individual processes and comes to terms with these changes in their own way. Sadness, grief, and depression are frequent and normal responses to this kind of trauma, both for the injured person and for near and dear ones. 

Although there is no checklist for patients wanting to return to a normal life, here are a few handy tips put together by experts and professionals in the field:

1. Plan a daily routine

Having a routine re-establishes a sense of dependable structure. Positive habits are known to enhance the quality of life, especially just after being released from the hospital. When patients find something they love to do or participate in, it gives them something to look forward to every day.

2. Exercise and eat well

Patients tend to gain weight due to a drastic reduction in movement, therefore, basic exercise and a healthy diet are recommended. During rehabilitation, patients are shown a daily exercise routine, which they must continue to help them maintain a healthy weight and regain their independence and confidence.

3. Keep your mind busy

If patients are planning on returning to work after rehabilitation, employers must assist them by making any necessary accommodations. Apart from that, there are many online and in-person courses that patients can enroll in to improve their skills and keep busy. 

This also helps them reintegrate into society and gives them opportunities to join social groups and events. 

4. Join a support group

Support groups help patients voice their concerns and feelings in a safe space. This offers them a chance to meet people with similar disabilities who have firsthand experience of some of the issues they encounter. This does wonders for mental health and reinforces the fact that the patient is welcome and supported no matter what.

5. Voicing feelings

Patients need to remember that they are not alone. It is recommended that patients inform their family members, carers, and loved ones when they need physical or emotional support. This gives them an outlet as well as lets people know if medical care is needed. 

6. Never give up!

Above all, patients mustn’t lose hope. Life is not over, even if it has been drastically altered. There is help and assistance available, and many opportunities exist out there.

Treatment and Outlook

The best Spinal Cord Injury treatment takes into consideration several factors, including area and extent of damage, individual needs of the patient, and medical history. It commences with a complete neurological examination, followed by a Regenerative Rehabilitation Program. This is a holistic procedure comprising Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Nutritive Therapy, and various medications. 

The rehabilitation program consists of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic massages, and similar procedures, determined by the medical team.

With proper care, treatment, and support, people with a Spinal Cord Injury can overcome their limitations and take back control of their lives.