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What You Need to Know Before Choosing an Inpatient Rehabilitation Center After a spinal cord injury (SCI), people need rehabilitation (rehab) to help them reach the highest level of functional independence. Many health care facilities offer rehab programs, but a limited number have expertise and experience in SCI rehab care. ...

What is the spine? The spine (also known as the “backbone”) is the connected column of bones running from your head to your lower back. A single bone is called a “vertebra” (pronounced VER-teh-brah), and multiple bones are called “vertebrae” (pronounced VER-teh-bray). The figure shows the spine and vertebrae. The figure also ...

Pain is a serious problem for many people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Pain after SCI can occur in parts of the body where there is normal sensation (feeling) as well as areas that have little or no feeling.

Can paralysis caused by spinal cord injury be reversed? Everyone wants to know if there is a “cure” for spinal cord injury (SCI). There continues to be significant progress made toward this goal, but, despite any claim that there is a cure, there is currently no cure or proven way to ...

What you need to know? Your spinal cord injury (SCI) might limit your ability to control your urine. You might not be able to stop urine from flowing, or you might not be able to release it. Uncontrolled urination or inability to empty your bladder can have a negative effect on your ...

What is sexuality? Your sexuality is what guides your natural desire to bond with others through love, affection, and intimacy. Here are a few ways you might express your sexuality. Emotional connections — feeling close to someone. Physical contact — acts of touching such as holding hands, hugging, kissing, cuddling, and sexual activity. Sexual ...

What you need to know? Your ability to control urine release may be limited because of injury. You may not be able to stop urine from flowing out of your body, or you may not be able to release urine from your body. The inability to control the release of urine is ...

Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD), sometimes referred to as Autonomic Hyperreflexia, is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience when there is a pain or discomfort below their level of injury, even if the pain or discomfort cannot be felt.

Spasticity is the uncontrolled tightening or contracting of the muscles that is common in individuals with spinal cord injuries. About 65%–78% of the SCI population have some amount of spasticity, and it is more common in cervical (neck) than thoracic (chest) and lumbar (lower back) injuries.

What Is Nutrition? Nutrition is the way your body uses the six major nutrients needed for health and function. Water Fats Protein Vitamins Carbohydrates Minerals Why Is Nutrition Important? Your body changes after spinal cord injury (SCI). There is usually reduced muscle and bone mass, added fat, and other changes that make it critical to follow a healthy diet ...

A bowel program can help you to control bowel movements. Following a bowel program can help you to avoid other problems and perhaps bowel surgery.

What is a personal care attendant? A personal care attendant, or PCA, is someone paid to help you with some or all of your self-care and other activities that you need for daily living after spinal cord injury (SCI). “Personal Assistant” and “Personal Assistant Service” are other terms that refer to similar ...

What does the respiratory system do? Your respiratory system (or pulmonary system) is responsible for breathing. This system enables you to inhale oxygen into your blood and exhale carbon dioxide. Your body needs the oxygen to survive, and carbon dioxide must be removed to avoid the build-up of acid in your ...

¿Qué es la columna vertebral? La columna vertebral (también conocida como la "espina dorsal") es la columna de huesos conectados que van de la cabeza a su espalda baja. Cada hueso se llama "vértebra" y varios huesos se llaman "vértebras" (en inglés vertebrae). La figura muestra la columna vertebral y las ...

¿Se puede revertir la parálisis causada por una lesión de la médula espinal? Todo el mundo quiere saber si hay una “cura” para la lesión de la médula espinal (LME). Sigue habiendo progresos significativos hacia este objetivo, pero, a pesar de cualquier afirmación de que existe una cura, hoy en día ...