What are the causes of pressure sores in people with spinal cord injuries? - Mary Zeigler, MS

With the spinal cord injury patient, it is pressure.  The spinal cord injury patient lacks sensory, or the ability to feel touch, and they also lack motor, or movement.  So, they’re unable to relieve pressure; they stay in one position permanently unless they themselves can move from that position, or a caregiver moves them, or relieves the pressure.  Let’s say, for example, you’ve extended your tolerance in terms of how long you’ve been in your wheelchair—Maybe there was a longer than usual car ride, maybe, for some reason, you couldn’t get out of your wheelchair, or your caregiver was late—these kind of things.  In terms of any sensory, if you have some sensory maybe there’s some tingling, maybe there’s some pain or discomfort.