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[bluegrey]

Hi folks

Firstly, thanks - reading through posts here over the past few weeks has made me do some crying, a lot of learning and an improbable amount of smiling, so thank you for all of that!

So, my Mum fell down the stairs on Christmas Day and was admitted to hospital with a stable C6 fracture, which somehow deteriorated in hospital and caused an acute spinal cord injury on New Year's Day. She's been transferred twice since then and, after a bit of a rollercoaster, is now doing brilliantly: managed to recover from the surgery, get off the ventilator, shake off various chest infections and UTIs and is able to swallow again. A few days ago, she recovered a tiny bit of movement in her right hand and a tiny bit in both legs (she had none).

Anyway, she's on an orthopaedics ward in a general hospital, waiting for a bed to become available at a spinal rehab centre. We have no idea how long she'll be waiting, so I have a couple of questions (there are no spinal specialists at the hospital to ask, and I've yet to meet an occupational therapist).

She's getting a little physio but no specialist spinal stuff, so if anyone has any particular suggestions for things we as family can do while she's waiting to be transferred, I'd love to hear them. We're doing hand and feet massages, moving her limbs around, have got her those squidgy 'physio balls' to try to hold in her hands, but we're making it all up really so any suggestions welcome. The physio has promised to give us some ideas but we're still waiting on that.

Also, she's been put in her own room with no TV, so if anyone knows of any cunning gadgets (voice activated radio? a phone she can use completely hands-free?) that will make her life a little easier while she's waiting, I'd love to hear your suggestions. I've started researching this but haven't got far yet.

Oh, and another one on bowel care. The thing that's upsetting her the most at the moment is severe constipation, and she's having a constant stream of enemas, manual removal, suppositories etc which she finds quite traumatic - any tips?

Aaanyway, I'll leave it there for now (sorry so long!) and just say thank you again for all your past posts and wisdoms :-)

Edited by bluegrey, 25 February 2011 - 08:11 PM.

[tarryn]

Hi BlueGrey

You seem to be on the right track with your mom. As every person with an SCI is different, its hard to give specific advise without having met your mom. MOvement in her hand and foot is great news, but theres still a way to go.

While you are waiting I would suggest two main things:
1.) Keep moving her limbs, this will keep her body supple and prevent deformities. get her to move everything she can to maintain and improve her strength, exercises would depend on what movements she has.
2.) Ask the nurses to sit her up in high fowlers (when the head of the bed is up high. If she gets dizzy, then only keep the bed up for as long as she tolerates. Eventually this will allow her to be helped into sitting over the edge of the bed without being dizzy. Dont do this alone as she could pass-out, get the nurses in with you (this dizziness and fainting, headaches and sweating is called postural hypotension and can be dangerous)


on bowel care...this is tricky, and it takes time. the aim is to try get the meds/suppositories etc at a regular time each day to get a bowel movement once a day so that it eventually becomes predictable. This could take months, it is not a quick fix thing. Mom needs to know that this problem is normal and can be worked out as time goes on.

I am happy to answer any more questions...PM me as you need.
Best wishes to you mom, keep strong all of you.
T