Paraplegia After Spinal Cord Injury (Inpatient Care) – Care Guide

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Paraplegia After Spinal Cord Injury (Inpatient Care) Care Guide Paraplegia (payr-ah-PLEE-jah) is a type of spinal cord injury (SCI). You may become paralyzed if you were in a car or sports accident and break your back. Having a tumor or other diseases in your spinal canal also can cause paraplegia. Paraplegia means that the part of the spinal cord inside your back has been injured. The symptoms of paraplegia are different depending on where and how badly your spinal cord is injured. You may have one or more of the following signs or symptoms: Your muscles may be limp, especially in your arms and legs. You may not be able to move and feel anything below the damaged area. You may not be able to control your bowel (BMs) or bladder (urine). It is possible for the nerves to start working again if you spinal cord is just bruised or swollen. The longer that there is no change in your signs and symptoms, the less likely that you will see improvement. CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

You may be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) after leaving the emergency department. You will be monitored very closely while in the ICU. Following are some of the things that caregivers do to watch you closely:

From test results, caregivers will learn about your SCI, and plan your treatment. You may need one or more of the following tests:

No, the injury to your spinal cord cannot be repaired, even with surgery.

Contractures happen when muscles, tendons, or ligaments in your body shorten. This results in less movement of a joint, such as your knee or ankle. Contractures can begin to happen as early as one week after your spinal cord injury. Contractures can be caused by nerve changes from the spinal cord to the muscles. Spasticity is when your arms or legs move uncontrollably, and may also cause contractures. Ask caregivers for more information about preventing and treating contractures.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are common problems after a SCI. These problems can be life-threatening. A DVT is a condition that happens when a thrombus (blood clot) forms in a vein. A PE is a condition that happens when a thrombus blocks a pulmonary (lung) artery.

Caregivers will teach you the signs and symptoms of a DVT and PE. The symptoms of a DVT include tenderness, pain, swelling, warmth, or skin color changes at a spot on your leg. The symptoms of a PE include very bad and sudden chest pain and difficulty breathing. Blood in your sputum (spit) is another symptom. Tell your caregivers if you feel or see any of these problems.

Caregivers may give you medicine to slow your blood from clotting. You may have a bed that rotates to keep your blood moving well through your body. The bed also helps stop pressure from being placed on any part of your body for too long.

You may need to take one or more of the following medicines:

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Paraplegia After Spinal Cord Injury (Inpatient Care) - Care Guide