Spinal Cord Injury Care ‣ Absolute Healthcare Providers Ltd

Spinal Cord Injury Care

Spinal cord injuries vary so much in severity. They are caused when delicate spinal cord tissue is bruised, torn, or crushed.

Spinal cord injuries can be caused by accidents, but can also be caused by diseases or disorders. Absolute Healthcare specialise in providing tailored care and support to clients with spinal injuries. We are here to help you lead as full and as independent a life as possible, from the comfort of your own home.

We take great care to make sure each of our clients receives the kind of care that works for them. We understand that everyone does things a little differently, so our expert team assess each client individually. We take in to consideration your clinical and social requirements to develop a bespoke and comprehensive care and lifestyle plan.

Types of spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injuries are classified as being either complete or incomplete:

Complete – all feeling and movement is lost below the spinal cord injury.

Incomplete – some feeling and movement remain below the spinal cord injury. The level of movement can vary.

This loss of feeling is a form of paralysis and may be classified as the following:

Tetraplegia/Quadriplegia – arms, hands, torso, pelvis, legs, and feet are all affected by the injury.

Paraplegia – torso downwards is affected by the injury, but not the arms/hands.

Symptoms

Receiving a spinal cord injury can result in changes to your body’s functions. These can include:

Movement loss (partial or full)
Lack of ability to feel touch or temperature (partial or full)
Spasms in the nerves and muscles
A change in sexual function and fertility
Bowel or bladder problems
Pain (varies both from person to person and in different areas of the body)
Problems related to breathing, swallowing, coughing etc

Some symptoms also highlight a need for urgent medical attention after a suspected injury:

Extreme pain
Loss of control of part/all of the body
Breathing difficulties
Twisting in the neck or back
Loss of co-ordination
Numbness and tingling in hands or feet

Risk factors

Some common causes of spinal cord injuries are:

Road traffic accidents
Falls, especially in older people
Assault
Recreational activities
Disease

You may also be more at risk of developing spinal cord injuries if you:

Are Male
Are between 16 and 30 years old
Are older than 65
Frequently consume alcohol, especially in high quantities
Participate in risky behaviours
Have certain illnesses or diseases that affect your bones

Complications

Spinal cord injuries can drastically affect your way of life. Even after recovering as much as possible from the initial injury, you may still be at risk of developing complications. It is imperative to watch out for:

Bladder and bowel changes – you may require support with continence in the form of pads, catheters, or even colostomy bags. The changes to your continence can put you at greater risk of infection, so it is vital that these are monitored.
Pressure sores – remaining in the same position for too long can result in pressure sores which, over time, can grow and lead to infection and affect the surrounding muscle and bone. Regular movement, whether on your own or through repositioning support, can reduce the likelihood of these developing.
Breathing difficulties – the level of injury acquired can result in changes to your respiratory system. Problems breathing and coughing may put you at greater risk of developing pneumonia or other lung conditions.
Blood-related complications – Swelling in your arms and legs, as well as changes to your blood pressure, can increase the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis and similar conditions.
Overall wellness – Spinal cord injuries can greatly affect a person. You may find yourself having to adjust to a completely different lifestyle than you had previously. This can affect your sexual relationships, fitness and body makeup (including weight gain and loss of muscle tone), level of pain, and even your mental wellbeing.