Spinal Cord Injury Resources

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WHAT IS A SPINAL CORD INJURY?

Your spinal cord is the pathway through which your brain sends information to nerves throughout your body. A spinal cord that has been compromised, either by disease or injury, can lead to impairment of movement and/or sensation. For example, some patients are unable to walk or use their arms. There might also be difficulties in breathing, sexual function, or bowel and bladder control. On average, we treat about 500 spinal cord patients every year, and every patient is different. Our goal for each patient is to help them develop the skills and strategies to live life to its fullest.

Our Healthy Living with SCI Manual provides detailed information about living with a spinal cord injury. And the New England Spinal Cord Injury Toolkit (SCI Toolkit) includes guidelines, resources, and shared expertise to help prevent some of the common secondary conditions often experienced by individuals living with an SCI.
SCI Toolkit

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

A spinal cord injury can be overwhelming but there are many resources to help guide you and your loved ones in making decisions and coping with an injury. Below are some reliable resources to help you manage the many health and emotional aspects of a spinal cord injury.

AbleData - Objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment

2012 Guide for the Best Apps for Individuals Living with Paralysis

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation

Get Moving: Exercise and SCI (video)

Healthy Living with Spinal Cord Injury

Online Educational Video Series (list of 37 videos) from the New England Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center (NERSCIC). Sample topics include: Staying Well after SCI, Adaptive Sports, SCI and Osteoporosis, Getting a Jump on Spasticity, Sexuality and SCI, Thriving Through and Beyond Trauma

Paralyzed Veterans of America Consumer Guides

Personal Emergency Preparedness Plan - an emergency planning checklist for those with disabilities

SCI Information Sheets - a series of Information Sheets on selected topics related to SCI from the Spinal Cord Injury Model System Information Network.

SCI Guide - brings together the best websites on spinal cord injury

Secondary Conditions of SCI video series

Secondary Conditions in the Rehabilitation of Individuals with SCI from MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, includes factsheets, research, web-survey information, and resources

Spinal Cord Injury Association of Connecticut, a Chapter of United Spinal

Understanding Spinal Cord Injury booklet
Part 1 of a spinal cord injury patient film explains the working of the spinal cord, what may happen if damage occurs, and common clinical terminology. Part 2 features patients with varying levels of injury who provide their own insights.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injury. This outstanding series of online videos explains the anatomy of the spinal cord and how the various levels of spinal cord injury impact a person's ability to function.

"Understanding Spinal Cord Injury" companion booklet: Basic Facts, Spinal Column Anatomy, Levels of Injury, ASIA/SCos Exam, Questions Families Should Ask, Emotions and Coping, TIps for Days/Weeks After, Insurance Maze, and Resources

United Spinal Association