New Life: Regaining Your Independence After a Spinal Cord Injury

Mobility and the ability to live independently are important factors affecting the quality of life for someone who has experienced a spinal cord injury (SCI). While understanding how to adapt to your new way of life may seem overwhelming at first, focusing on what you can do — rather than what you cannot — makes it possible to enjoy life again. Read on for our actionable steps for regaining your independence after SCI. 

Adjusting to Your SCI

SCIs are the leading cause of paralysis in the US, and a recent estimate puts the occurrence of traumatic SCIs at approximately 17,900 new cases annually. Diseases, trauma, or genetics usually cause these injuries, and their symptoms range from mild and episodic to severe and chronic. Treatment for SCIs often includes a combination of occupational and physical therapy. 

Learning to live with your SCI will not be an overnight process but rather an adaptive one — one that may take your whole life. Right after your injury, your adjustment will focus on dealing with the fresh emotional and physical aspects of your injury. 

Your immediate recovery will include the following. 

• Learning about your unique SCI and what that means for your body
• Addressing the emotional roller coaster that comes with SCI
• Struggling with your productivity and will to live
• Losing the feeling of total independence
• Learning how to take care of your body after SCI

But after this first adjustment period, you can use the new skills you have learned to live with your new level of independence, reenter the workforce and community, adapt activities you love or develop new hobbies. Your goals at this time should be to live as independently as you safely can and look to the future as you build a life that refocuses on your purpose. 

Your Physical Health

Assistance

Assistive technology helps people with SCIs live independently and helps with day-to-day functions. Examples include smart home devices such as Amazon’s voice-activated Alexa, computers, smartphones, prosthetic devices, shower benches, transfer boards, and modified kitchen tools, to name just a few. For those who require additional help, a personal care assistant (PCA) can be hired part-time or full-time to help accomplish tasks around the house. 

Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet reduces the risk of weight gain and can make some tasks associated with independent living, such as bowel management, much easier. On the other hand, being under or overweight can increase your risk of developing pressure injuries in your body’s bony areas like the hips, elbows, and heels. 

Exercise

Some people with SCIs may be reluctant to undergo physical therapy following their injury. But, it has the power to rewire your brain and spine and increase your strength, giving you the ability to perform more and more tasks as time progresses. It also helps prevent spasticity, pain, and weight gain. As you exercise more often, your strength and endurance also increase, making it easier for you to accomplish everyday tasks. Further, people with SCIs who exercise regularly have lower rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. 

Functional Electrical Stimulation 

One of the most beneficial forms of exercise for someone living with an SCI is functional electrical stimulation (FES), which uses impulses to send signals to undamaged nerves that lead the muscles to contract. FES has countless advantages in improving physical and mental health, including preventing atrophy, recovering function, boosting self-image, preventing bone loss, and improving circulation. 

Home Adjustments

When you come home after your injury, you will need to make adjustments at your home to make it accessible for you. Particularly if you are now using a wheelchair, your home may need to be outfitted with ramps, widened doorways, lowered cabinets, and special tools for grooming and dining. 

Your Mental Health 

Depression and Anxiety 

Particularly when you are first injured, you may have a higher propensity for becoming depressed or developing anxiety. If this happens to you, it can significantly damage your quality of life and ability to live independently. See your doctor and be open to medication or counseling, along with leaning on the support of friends and family. 

Also, be aware that beginning to use drugs or alcohol to cope with your SCI affects your health and well-being. It can increase your risk of depression and anxiety, harm your interpersonal relationships, and even negatively interact with your prescribed medications. 

Quality of Life 

Your doctor may use a tool to assess your quality of life called SCI-QOL that comprehensively looks at your physical, social, and emotional health. Your results can then be used to adjust your therapies or medications. As your perceived quality of life has implications on so many other areas and can ultimately affect your ability to live alone, you should stay on top of this assessment with your healthcare provider. 

MYOLYN Is Your Partner for Independent Living  

Living independently after a spinal cord injury looks different for everyone and depends on many factors, such as how intense your rehabilitation is and the level and severity of your injury. But with a personalized approach that fits your unique abilities, you can become more and more independent as time passes. At MYOLYN, we are passionate about helping people with SCIs and paralysis rediscover movement and enjoy independent living as they once did. For knowledgeable, caring guidance, or to gain the health benefits of our innovative MyoCycle, reach out to someone on our caring and knowledgeable team today.