Spinal Care

What is a Spinal Cord Injury?

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the tight bundle of cells and nerves that sends and receives signals from the brain to and from the rest of the body. This can result from direct injury to the spinal cord or damage to the bones (vertebrae) and tissue which surround and protect the spinal cord.

Symptoms

Spinal cord injuries can Impact your ability to control your limbs, the extent of which depends on two factors: the site and severity of the injury.

The part of the cord below the site of the injury which remains unaffected Is referred to as the neurological level of the Injury, whilst the severity of the injury is referred to as the completeness with the following classifications.

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Complete

All feeling (sensory) and all ability to control movement (motor function) are lost below the spinal cord injury.
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Incomplete

Some motor or sensory function present below the affected area; there are varying degrees of incomplete injury.
Paralysis from a spinal cord injury can be referred to as:
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Tetraplegia or quadriplegia, this means that your arms, hands, trunk, legs, and pelvic organs are all affected by your spinal cord injury

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Paraplegia

Paraplegia, all or part of the trunk, legs and pelvic organs are affected.

Your health care team will perform the appropriate tests and Investigations to determine the neurological level and completeness of your injury.

Spinal cord injuries can cause one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

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Loss of movement

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Loss of or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
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Loss of bowel or bladder control

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Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms

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Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility

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Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to the nerve fibres in your spinal cord

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Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs

Contact Us

Cheshire East & Northwich:
01625 900 985
carecheshireeast@cahg.co.uk

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Cheshire West & Wirral:

01244 662 741
carecheshirewest@cahg.co.uk
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Warrington & Halton:

01925 652 800
carewarrington@cahg.co.uk
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How we can support you

We will create a bespoke package of care working with you, your multidisciplinary team, and your family if appropriate to ensure we meet your clinical, physical, social care and personal needs. We will work closely with spinal rehabilitation units and acute settings to facilitate an effective discharge and manage your transition home.

Our packages focus on delivering true holistic care ensuring all your physical, psychological, and social need are considered. We have significant experience of delivering spinal injury care which has equipped us with the skills to support our clients and their families during what is an incredibly challenging time.

Our care packages are delivered by our highly trained Healthcare Assistants, and can include:

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Bowel Care, including manual evacuation.

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Autonomic Dysreflexia management.
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Bladder Care and Catheter care and maintenance.
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Respiratory care including cough assist and ventilation.
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Postural Hypotension.
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Support with mobility
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Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
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Physiotherapy rehabilitation working with prescribed protocols.

Can we help, Contact us now