Recovery
Generally, individuals who undergo Spine Surgery may take about 3 to 4 months to recover completely and to be back to daily activities.
The road to SCI recovery can be arduous and frequently unpredictable. Years after their accident, some people who have spinal cord injuries spontaneously begin to walk. Some people are unable to move ever again.
There are no guarantees when it comes to spinal cord injuries, despite the fact that medical science can do a lot to forecast what could happen to you.
What is certain is that having a healthy lifestyle, being in good psychological health, having supportive family members, and getting treatment at a model system of care can all lead to better results.
Physical Recovery
Physical healing can be defined in a variety of ways. Some spinal cord injury survivors do not regain any function, despite the fact that many of them do. Therefore, concentrating just on physical rehabilitation may make the patient feel helpless and overburdened.
Typical benchmarks for physical rehabilitation include:
- The reduction of swelling at the site of the injury.
- Recovering from surgery.
- Regaining some sensation below the site of the injury.
- Regaining some movement below the site of the injury.
- Learning to use assistive devices such as wheelchairs and prostheses.
- Finding fresh approaches to carry out old chores, like changing how one approaches making or having sex.
- Enhancing physical strength to enable you to work around your ailments. For example, one may learn how to type using a body component other than the hands.
Psychological Recovery
Physical healing is frequently the main emphasis of spinal cord injury guides, medical professionals, attorneys, and loved ones. But this unwavering obsession may hinder psychological healing.
Poor mental health can make physical health worse, and thinking that happiness can only be found via physical healing can also harm your mental health.
Even in the presence of an uncomfortable injury, happiness is still attainable. According to one survey, 86% of quadriplegics felt that their lifestyles were better than average.
It is quite OK to seek psychiatric assistance if you have suffered a spinal cord injury. Many survivors have sadness, anxiety, and other mental health problems, but patients could discover new ways to live a life they enjoy with the support of their family and plenty of help.
The doctor creates a thorough strategy for SCI rehabilitation in collaboration with the patient and the family. Although every accident is unique, typical spinal cord injury treatments may include:
- Care to address, but not treat, your immediate symptoms. For instance, a ventilator can help you breathe and a feeding tube can help you eat if you are unable to do so.
- Palliative treatment is intended to make patients more comfortable. The doctor could recommend medication to assist if patients experience persistent pain or sleeplessness.
- Lifestyle changes, such as a healthier diet or giving up smoking.
Physical therapy can help people retrain the body and mind. With physical therapy, many spinal cord injury victims are able to regain a substantial amount of movement. - Counseling for the patient and the family will help them deal with the stress and anguish of living with a spinal cord injury.
- Surgery as needed to correct injury-related health problems.
- Exercise can speed up the recovery from a spinal cord injury while also providing a host of additional health advantages. This may include Yoga, Weightlifting, Water aerobics, Seated aerobics, Walking, Rowing.
The exercise regime, guided by an expert has many benefits in the case of an SCI:
- Improves mental health by reducing depression and anxiety.
- Reduce the risk of cancer.
- Improves symptoms of chronic pain.
- Help in avoiding chronic illnesses such as diabetes and osteoporosis.
- Reduces your risk of falls.
- Improves the chances of living a longer life.
Research on spinal cord injuries is always exploring novel therapeutic approaches, such as stem cell therapy for SCI. Stem cell treatments have been promoted for a long time as the panacea for a variety of illnesses, including spinal cord injury. According to recent statistics, most studies may lead to a treatment for spinal cord injury.