Spinal cord injuries affect different people in different ways. When a person suffers a spinal cord injury that affects the lower limbs but leaves the upper limbs intact, there are some special challenges that he or she has to be ready to tackle. One of these is upper limb pain.
On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Spinal Cord Injuries on Friday, February 19, 2016.
Spinal cord injuries affect different people in different ways. When a person suffers a spinal cord injury that affects the lower limbs but leaves the upper limbs intact, there are some special challenges that he or she has to be ready to tackle. One of these is upper limb pain.
In some cases, people who are unable to walk might be able to get an electric wheelchair; however, many people rely on manual wheelchairs to get around. Wheeling yourself around after the accident can cause your shoulders, wrists, elbows and arms to hurt. While this might be part of using your body in a new way, it can often be difficult to deal with.
People who have suffered paralysis because of an injury to the spinal cord might also have trouble with transferring into and out of the wheelchair. These transfers can cause significant strain on the shoulders. This can be minimized by ensuring the seat is at a proper height. Making sure that the tires are properly inflated can also help to ensure that everything is at the proper height.
Doing arm and shoulder stretches and exercises can help. Additionally, assistive devices might also help. Many of the methods that you can use to help abate upper limb pain can be costly. Seeking compensation might help you to be able to afford these devices.
Generally, trying to get a power wheelchair is the best thing to do if the upper limb pain is severe. Not only can a power wheelchair help you to minimize the upper limb pain, it can also help you to regain independence that you lost after the spinal cord injury.