How are medical problems addressed in rehabilitation?
Author: SCIRE Community Team | Reviewer: Shannon Sproule | Published: 25 September 2017 | Updated: ~
A number of medical problems may be present during rehabilitation. Medical problems are addressed through the care of your healthcare team and by developing the knowledge and skills to manage these problems long-term.
Some people with SCI need help with breathing and coughing.6
Skin care
involves caring for the condition of the skin and treating and preventing wounds and
pressure ulcers
. This may involve pressure relief techniques, specialized seating, and nutritional changes along with skin care education. Treatment for active wounds may involve wound dressings or treatments, medications, equipment or mobility recommendations to address possible causes.
Bowel care
involves a variety of physical, dietary, and medication treatments for managing bowel problems. It will also involve learning about how to manage bowel care once you leave rehab.
Bladder care
involves regularly emptying the bladder using catheters or other techniques, treating problems like
urinary tract infections
, and staying hydrated. It also involves learning how to manage bladder care once you leave rehab for long term bladder health.
Pain management
involves trying different medications, physical strategies, and other techniques to manage pain effectively.
Spasticity
care
involves learning about spasticity and using treatments like medications, exercise, and positioning to reduce spasticity.
Respiratory (breathing and coughing) care
may involve breathing and coughing exercises, care for lung infections, and learning to use equipment and manage breathing once you leave rehab.
Autonomic dysreflexia management
involves recognizing autonomic dysreflexia and understanding how to prevent and treat it.
Working with a sexual health clinician may be a part of rehabilitation.7
Blood pressure care may involve learning to manage and care for orthostatic hypotension and other blood pressure problems using medications, exercise, compression garments, or change to salt and fluid intake.
Sexual and reproductive health
is an important part of health. Consultation with sexual health clinicians can be an important part of rehab after SCI.
Brain injuries and concussions
can often happen at the same time as an SCI. Care for these injuries involves consulting with brain injury specialists and receiving treatments for these injuries.
Other injuries and issues
may arise during rehabilitation that need to be managed such as muscle or bone issues, nerve entrapment, carpal tunnel and upper extremity dysfunction.
