YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Coping With A Spinal Cord Injury
SCROLL DOWN
keyboard_arrow_downExplore over 2,000 videos from our
SCROLL DOWN
keyboard_arrow_downYOU ARE NOT ALONE
Coping With A Spinal Cord Injury
Explore over 2,000 videos from our
unique video library of family experiences
FacingDisability.com connects
families who suddenly have to deal with a spinal cord injury
to people like them who have already been there.
Tough Questions, Honest Answers — Our video library has 2,000 high-quality HD videos of people who are living with spinal cord injury. They give honest answers to straightforward questions about how they cope. Their personal experiences are powerful evidence that successful, fulfilling lives are still possible. Click on faces in the grid below to meet the voices of experience.
SCI Medical Experts — Video interviews give you easy- to -understand answers to the most important questions.
Scroll down to “What the Experts Say” for medical straight talk.
Healthcare Info — Resources section is a gateway to the best information on the web. Scroll down to see Resources.
REAL PEOPLE,
|
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
 |
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY |
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
play_arrow
 |
ANIMATED SCI LEVELS CHARTMouse over the spinal column to see how the level of injury affects loss of function and control |
|
Cervical InjuriesCervical injuries above the C-4 level may require a ventilator for the person to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and biceps control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally yield wrist control, but no hand function. Individuals with C-7, C-8 and T-1 injuries can straighten their arms, but still may have problems with their hands. |
ANIMATED SCI LEVELS CHART
Mouse over the spinal column to see how the level of injury affects loss of function and control
Cervical Injuries
Cervical injuries above the C-4 level may require a ventilator for the person to breathe. C-5 injuries often result in shoulder and biceps control, but no control at the wrist or hand. C-6 injuries generally yield wrist control, but no hand function. Individuals with C-7, C-8 and T-1 injuries can straighten their arms, but still may have problems with their hands.
Thoracic Injuries
The first thoracic vertebra, T-1, is located approximately at the same level as the top rib. Injuries to nerves in this region usually affect the chest and the legs, and result in paraplegia. For injuries from T-1 to T-8, there is usually control of the hands but lack of abdominal muscle control. (Individuals with injuries from T-1 to T-6 are also at risk for Autonomic Dysreflexia)
Lumbar Injuries
Injuries to nerves in the area of L-1 to L-5 generally result in some loss of functioning of the hips and legs. Bowel, bladder and sexual function may also be impacted.
Sacral Injuries
The sacrum runs from the pelvis to the end of the spinal column. Injuries to nerves in this area generally result in some loss of functioning of the hips, legs, ankles, and feet. Loss of control of bowel and bladder and sexual functions is also common.
Facing Disability Blog
SCI Pregnancy Study
The first database on women’s health and disability has been created by the Program for Research on Women’s Health and Disability (PROWHD) at University of Michigan Medicine. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, it is the first patient reported outcome registry ever created to help physicians and other healthcare professionals understand the health-related quality of life of their female patients with physical disabilities.
PROWHD is actively looking for women with spinal cord injuries to participate in a new study, ‘Developing Pregnancy Decision-Making Tools for Women with Spinal Cord Injury,’ which is partially funded by a grant from the Nielsen Foundation.
Women with SCI often struggle to find information on pregnancy, or know the questions they need to ask. The decision-making tools developed from this study will help women with SCI and their healthcare providers to navigate their pregnancies.
If you live in the United States and are over the age of 18 and are interested in learning more about this study or the registry, contact Shannen Bolde by calling (734) 615-8543 or emailing SCIpregnancystudy@umich.edu.
For more information and videos on pregnancy after spinal cord injury, click here to watch medical expert, Diane Rowles, RN, answer questions on sex and fertility.
... READ MORE
Facing Disability BlogSCI Pregnancy StudyThe first database on women’s health and disability has been created by the Program for Research on Women’s Health and Disability (PROWHD) at University of Michigan Medicine. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, it is the first patient reported outcome registry ever created to help physicians and other healthcare professionals understand the health-related quality of life of their female patients with physical disabilities. PROWHD is actively looking for women with spinal cord injuries to participate in a new study, ‘Developing Pregnancy Decision-Making Tools for Women with Spinal Cord Injury,’ which is partially funded by a grant from the Nielsen Foundation. Women with SCI often struggle to find information on pregnancy, or know the questions they need to ask. The decision-making tools developed from this study will help women with SCI and their healthcare providers to navigate their pregnancies. If you live in the United States and are over the age of 18 and are interested in learning more about this study or the registry, contact Shannen Bolde by calling (734) 615-8543 or emailing SCIpregnancystudy@umich.edu. For more information and videos on pregnancy after spinal cord injury, click here to watch medical expert, Diane Rowles, RN, answer questions on sex and fertility. Read More |
 |
SIGN UP FOR
|