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After a spinal cord injury, many people need to make their home more accessible. If you have stairs outside of your house, you might need to use ramps to help you get in. There are both temporary and permanent solutions. Portable ramp options are also available.

After a spinal cord injury, it is common to no longer feel the need to empty your bowel. You also might not be able to start your bowel movement like you used to. This resource provides information about digital stimulation to help trigger bowel movements.

After a spinal cord injury, you may have weakness or loss of movement in your hands and fingers. This can make it hard to eat and drink without help. There are devices that can help you eat and drink with little or no assistance. If you have poor feeling, be cautious with hot foods and drinks to avoid burns.

After a spinal cord injury, climbing stairs can be difficult. Practicing a good technique can help you learn to get up stairs alone or with help. Always practice using stairs with your therapist before trying it alone.

A standing step transfer is a technique to move from one surface to another. To do this transfer, you need some leg strength and good balance. You can use a walker or cane to help with the standing part of this transfer. Practice this transfer with your therapist before trying it alone. Your therapist can also help teach an assistant the safest way to help you.

After a spinal cord injury, there is a higher risk of having health issues. These can keep you from doing the things you like. To live a long and healthy life, you will need to take extra care of yourself.

This is a list of local, Canadian and international resources for people who have experienced a suicide attempt or suicidal thoughts and feelings, and people who have been impacted by suicide.

A wheelchair is a great mobility device for getting around. Like any equipment, they have wear and tear. You will need to service your wheelchair to keep it in good working condition. This helps keep your wheelchair safe and prevents problems before they occur. In case of an emergency, it’s good practice to carry a cell phone with you.

Dysphagia (dis-fay-juh) is the medical term for a swallowing disorder, meaning a difficulty or inability to swallow. Dysphagia can affect people of all ages. Left untreated, this disorder can have a devastating effect on a person’s social, emotional and physical well-being.

Assistive Devices Program (ADP) is a government funding program. It pays up to 75% of some mobility devices. For more about this program, visit: www.health.gov.on.ca/adp. To qualify for the program you must meet the following criteria: Valid Ontario Health Card. Have a physical disability

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a dangerous rise in blood pressure that can happen after spinal cord injury. It affects people who have a spinal injury at level T6 or above. AD happens when you have pain or discomfort in the areas of your body that have no feeling. The most common cause of AD is a full bowel or bladder. When you have AD, you have other signs and symptoms at the same time. If you have these symptoms, you need to fix the problem right away. AD is a medical emergency. If not treated, it can cause stroke, heart attack, seizure, and death.

After a spinal cord injury, the muscles that help you breathe and cough can be weak. Breath stacking improves breathing and coughing by helping remove mucous from your lungs. Getting mucous out of your lungs helps prevent lung collapse and infections like pneumonia. Having a healthy lung volume improves oxygen, helps you speak louder, and reduces breathing problems.

Preparing meals after spinal cord injury is simple enough with some planning. An important part of a healthy diet is preparing your own food. By eating at home you can control portion sizes and reduce fat, salt, and sugar intake. Using the right tools and devices can help make it safer and easier for you to prepare meals. Remember that changes in your sensation and strength may put you at risk for burns and cuts.

Sometimes pain does not go away with medications or other treatments. Pain that lasts many weeks or months is called long-term or chronic pain. After a spinal cord injury, this kind of pain is often caused by damage to your nerves or spinal cord. When your spinal cord does not heal very well, this pain can last for months or even years. This handout will teach some helpful tips for coping with chronic pain.

This is a handout to describe what you need to do after having a Fluoroscopy Procedure.

This is a handout to explain that Gabapentin is used to treat pain from damaged nerves (neuropathic pain). It works by dampening the pain signals sent through the body’s nervous system and can also be used in the treatment of seizure disorders.

When using a wheelchair, going up and down stairs can be challenging. While some people can go up one or two stairs alone, going up many stairs is best done with help. In most cases, you will need at least two assistants to help you up and down stairs. Practice stairs with your therapist before trying it with assistants. Always make sure your assistants are able and strong enough to help you.

This is a handout to learn about how some prescription and over the counter medicines can interfere with your ability to drive safely.

List of resources for pain management, including apps, websites, books, community and home-based mental health services