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Frequently
Asked Questions:
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What are the levels of Spinal Cord Injury?(top
of page)
There are seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, and one sacral
vertebrae that make up the spine. The bones get progressively thicker moving
down the spinal cord. The level of injury references Spinal Cord Injuries.
Cervical Injuries are the highest these injuries are referred to as C2 being
the highest level of injury and C8 being the lowest level of injury with the
most function. Individuals with Cervical injuries are most often referred to as
Quadraplegics because all four limbs are affected.
Individuals with injuries below the cervical level of the spine are
called thoracic injuries and are most often referred to as Paraplegics.
Injuries to the thoracic levels relate to the trunk of the body. Paraplegics
have complete use of their hands and arms, which indicates that only two limbs
are affected. Thoracic injuries are injuries at or below the first thoracic
vertebrae. These injuries are classified as T1 being the highest and T12 the
lowest.
Individuals with injuries to the Lumbar section of the spine are not
as common as injuries to the Cervical and Thoracic areas of the spinal cord.
These injuries are referenced as L1 through L5.
Keep in mind that spinal cord injuries are referenced as complete and
incomplete. In a complete spinal cord injury communication is stopped, whereas
an incomplete injury leaves some nerve function in tact.
What does Insurance Cover?(top
of page)
What does Medicare
cover?
Please call (800) 403-9189 to speak with a urological
consultant to determine your exact benefits.
What does Medicaid
cover?
Please call (800) 403-9189 to speak with a urological
consultant to determine your exact benefits.
Private Insurance?
Please call (800) 403-9189 to speak with a urological
consultant to determine your exact benefits.
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What are general medical concerns with
SCI?(top
of page)
As a person with a disability who uses a
wheelchair, you have additional health concerns. For example you must work
harder to maintain your health. If you lack sensation, you must be alert for
other signals from your body. It is wise to find out what you can about
healthcare and advocating for yourself before an emergency or serious health
threat arises.
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Educate yourself about insurance options and
your coverage.
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Know your medical history
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Know your medications
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Tell others about particular health risk
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Establish a good relationship with your
physician
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How can I prevent a UTI?(top
of page)
Urinary tract infections or bladder infections are a constant risk for those
with a neurogenic bladder. If not cared for promptly, urinary tract infections
(UTI) can make you severely ill with high fever, spread to the kidneys and
ultimately kill you.
UroMed offers closed system intermittent
catheters, which are designed to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections.
These require certain documentation to be covered by insurance and Medicare.
Contact a urological consultant today (800) 403-9189 to discuss the options
available for you.
What activities are
available for Spinal Cord Injured?(top
of page)
Getting out there
The more you get out there, the more you will learn about your capabilities and
limitations. You learn how to make your experiences as unfettered and
convenient as possible. Visit the resources section of our website to learn
about some of the many resources available. If you have a resource not listed
on our site please e-mail it to us and we will be glad to add it to our site.
We want to be a complete resource for you and with the input of our visitors we
can continue to help others.
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