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Spinal cord injury

Read advice from Dr. Jeffrey Rabin, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist of the Children’s National Medical Center.

Check out information on spinal cord injuries just for teens.

Every person is different in how they react to a spinal cord injury. People who have new spinal cord injuries often have feelings of grief, almost like the emotions that you would feel if a loved one passed away. Some common feelings that can be a part of grief are:

• Denial or having a hard time believing that the injury has happened. You may think that the injury will go away, even if you are unable to move.
• Extreme sadness over what has happened. Sadness is different from depression, which is a health condition that you can get help for. Learn more about depression.
• Anger towards the people around you and even feelings of anger toward yourself.
• Hope that if you accept things as they are and work hard in physical therapy, you will recover from your injury someday. It is okay to hope for a cure for paralysis, but it is really important to focus on living your life with your injury.
• Acceptance of your injury as your grieving comes to an end – saying ‘okay, I have this injury’ and thinking about new goals for your future.

Adjusting

Adjustment is also a big part of dealing with a spinal cord injury or other major accident. Adjustment means getting used to something new and also making changes to better handle something new. Right after you are injured, there is a period of adjustment that is different for everyone. For some people, it could take a year to accept what has happened. Some may not realize how serious their injury is right away. For teens, it can be especially hard to cope, because just being a teen can be tough.

Always remember that it is normal to be angry, but it is important that your anger doesn’t stop you from taking care of yourself. Make sure to do what the doctor tells you to do and try to focus on your therapy. It will be easier to adjust to your injury if you set personal goals for yourself, such as working hard in each therapy session to gain strength or getting back into a club at school.

The future

You will have to adjust to new experiences throughout your life with this injury. As tough as it can be, dealing with the different challenges that come your way will make you strong – and will really make you shine! Had you hoped to be a doctor someday before your injury? Or hoped to have a family? Well, your long-term goals don’t have to change at all! Talk to your parents/guardians, health care team, and teachers about what you need to feel more comfortable at school so that you can do well. And, most importantly, make sure that you follow advice from your health care team about taking care of your health on a daily basis.

Read advice from Dr. Jeffrey Rabin, a pediatric rehabilitation specialist of the Children’s National Medical Center.

Q. What can teens do to feel more comfortable in a hospital or rehabilitation center?

A. Teens should know that a hospital is not a pleasant place, and that recovery is going to be hard work. It can help to trust your health care team members – they always have your best interests in mind. And, they will do what they can to make your stay as nice as possible.

Q. How can teens make the recovery process smoother?

A. Healing after a spinal cord injury is hard on your body and mind. There is also a lot to learn about the other health issues that can go along with spinal cord injuries, but it will get easier to manage these in time. Listen to your doctor and other health care team members when they teach you how to care for yourself.

Q. What should patients ask their doctors?

A. Ask your doctor about doing the things you enjoy. He or she wants to hear you ask if you can still go camping and play sports!

Q. What can make it easier for teens with spinal cord injuries to deal with friends and family?

A. Let people know that you are still the same person, only now you are dealing with a medical problem. You can tell them that everyone has a medical problem at some point in their lives and that you are dealing with yours early in life.

Q. What should teens know about spinal cord injury research that is going on?

A. It is important to be aware of how serious your injury is. At the same time, there is a lot of spinal cord injury research taking place and it is okay to hope for a cure for paralysis someday. The best thing you can do is focus on moving ahead and living life with the injury you have, in the healthiest way possible.

Q. Can teen girls with spinal cord injuries have babies?

A. Girls can absolutely become mothers someday! The doors are still wide open for your future goals – whether those goals are to have a family or do anything else that you put your mind to.

Content last updated June 2, 2007

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