How to Live With Spinal Cord Injury

For people with spinal cord injury, it is a life-altering experience. It is a quite scary thought since one cannot – and would not - want to imagine what life would be like as an incapacitated individual. A spinal cord injury can greatly affect the daily activities as well as the career and family life of the patient.

How It Affects You:

1. Personal/Psychological – It is only expected for the person to primarily experience a great deal of shock and disbelief. It is a harrowing condition but many people have learned to cope with it. What you must keep in mind though is that acceptance is the first step to coping with, and eventually, recovering from the condition. It is important for the person and the family to understand that the next step to coping with the situation is to undergo treatment.

2. Family and Career – It is only understandable that family life and loved-ones will also be greatly affected by a family member’s spinal cord injury especially if he or she is the primary wage earner of the family. Furthermore, since a person with a spinal cord injury will not be able to function normally as before, it is only expected that he or she will be relying mainly on other members of the family until he or she is completely recovered from the injury. Information regarding the spinal cord injury condition is very important to the patient as well as to family members looking after the patient.

3. Relationships – Sexual and personal relationships with a partner may also be affected by the spinal cord injury. Usually, professional counseling is undertaken by the couple in order that they may be able to communicate about their sexual needs and find ways to make sure that they are fulfilled. Sometimes, one cannot have sexual intercourse with a partner anymore.

4. Daily Functioning – Fifty years ago, it would have been unimaginable for someone suffering from a spinal injury to get around without the help of others. Fortunately, times have changed. With the medical and technological advancements we have today, one can now explore new options to live a more productive life. Now, with the help of vehicles, wheelchairs, computers and other gadgets and equipments made especially for the purpose, spinal cord injury patients can now drive a vehicle, get around, and move with relative independence.

Treatment

Recovery and treatment must progress consistently. The recovery process will take months or even years, so he should slowly but surely comply with the rehabilitation process. Having a disability does not mean one cannot lead a healthy life. This is a great time to get a good diet not just for your body but for your brain as well. This will ensure that your body can build enough strength and nutrients in order to prevent complications arising from the spinal cord injury condition and to maintain regular bladder and bowel function.

Recovery from the injury itself will take time, and one should be very lucky if one can recover from spinal cord injury. It needs a lot of patience as well as the will to recover in order for treatments to work.