Autonomic Dysreflexia|
Medical Emergency
What is it?
Autonomic Dysreflexia also known Hypereflexia is the body’s way of telling you there is something painful below the Spinal Cord Injury. You will know your going Dysreflexic from a realy bad headache caused by a sudden 5ise of blood pressure. You may start sweating and get red patches on skin. Once you have found and treated painful area Dysreflexia will almost stop immediately. This is only a brief overview of Autonomic Dysreflexia please see the more detail link below for more information.
Autonomic Dysreflexia in More detail...
Pressure Care & Prevention
The best way to care for a pressure area is to prevent one.
It is easy to achieve adequate pressure relief while in bed or in a wheelchair. Special cushions and mattresses are essential for your specific needs.
in bed you can be turned to relieve pressure and whilst on your side someone can rub your back to help blood circulation. Using a pillow placed under your side between turns can relieve pressure from each side. When in your wheelchair change your angle to shift your weight, putting your feet up will also help.
Respiratory Care
A cough assist machine is a valuable tool used to reduce chest infections in ventilated quadriplegic persons. Used at a minimum of once daily it is sufficient to retrieve phlegm and secretions from the lungs allowing clearer airways. It can be used more often if a temperature is present and the secretions are thicker and darker in color indicative of an infection that is brewing in the lungs.
The cough assist machine is not only just for people who are ventilated or have a tracheotomy’s it can also be used via a face mask.
Bill Miller explains the cough assist machine is in more detail Click here
Bladder care
To keep a healthy bladder it is recommend drinking lots of water so your bladder keeps flushin g as you want to keep your urine looking as clear as possible. It is possible to tell from the colour and odor if bacteria s breeding in your urine eventually causing a urinary tract infection (UTI). Drinks that lower the acidity(ph) of the urine such as urals will help prevent and manage urinary tract infections cranberry juice helps as well, though drinking to much of thisyou will find yourself putting on weight so instead switch to cranberry tablets.
Physiotherapy
You should have physiotherapy every morning as this helps maintain flexibility by stretching unused joints and muscles. It is also known to stop arthritis in unused joints which can be very painful. Remembering pain can lead to uncontrollable autonomic dysreflexia
Exercise
if you are able to move your arms there are plenty of ways to get exercise such as hand
Diet
It is very easy to become overweight as a quadriplegic. it is due to lack of exercise and keeping old bad eating habits. The only way to stay a healthy weight is to eat well and drink 2 to 3 liters of water a day.
If you find yourself overweight the low carbohydrate diets work really well.
It is a meal replacement program using shakes and soups
Bathing
Make sure you are dried properly in every area, don’t miss places as moist areas are a good breeding ground for bacteria. Moist skin can cause the skin to weaken, it can split easily and can also cause rashes.
Clothing
It is recommend wearing clothing that breathes such as cotton. Nylon, silk and satin do not let air circulate which contributes to heat rashes and places for bacteria to grow. Make sure clothing is not too tight and check back pockets for buttons, sitting on them can cause pressure sores.
Tips and tricks
how to beat the heat!
i got This tip from Bill Millers site and it works a charm i know because i tried it at the big day out concert so i had to pass it on.
when you go out on a hot day take a spray bottle and when ever you get hot give yourself a spray down.
Thats it SO easy yet SO affective!! |
