Frequently Asked Questions On Spinal Injuries
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spinal cord injury (SCI) can occur at any place between neck to the hips. It can be compared to a telephone wire that will stop relaying messages beyond the point it is damaged, in the same manner messages from the brain stop transmitting beyond the point of injury. The area below the injured part of the spinal cord may become paralyzed with a probable loss of sensation and movements. Depending upon the level of injury a person with a SCI could be either a paraplegic or a tetraplegic.
Causes of an SCI are enlisted below:
- Falling from height. - A tree, scaffolding, top of a building etc.
- Fall of weight over you
- Road accidents
- Injuries due to violence
- Sporting injuries
- Tuberculosis of the spine
- Medical and surgical accidents
The recovery period depends entirely upon the intensity of the damage caused. It differs from person to person. Some people are able to walk normally, some use calipers to get about and some also would have to use a wheelchair. The progress can be very slow, therefore, you need to be patient and have a lot of hope.
Spasms are in voulantary movement which is an unexplainable symptom normally seen in the case of incomplete spinal cord injury.
A person with SCI may require:
- Personal care aids for showering, toileting, transferring and feeding
- Domestic services for meal preparation, shopping, cleaning and ironing
- Household support for activities like gardening, home cleaning and home maintenance
- Community access like transport and a companion
- Nursing and medication
- Respite for time spent away from home in doing leisure activities
- Workplace or education support
