Finding that information on incomplete injury is scarce? CPA has a comprehensive resource dedicated to incomplete SCI.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury, published as part of CPA’s comprehensive Life After A Spinal Cord Injury resource which has been available since 1998, will help people with incomplete SCI better understand the nature of their injuries and develop appropriate strategies for daily living.

“CPA statistics have shown that the number of persons who had sustained partial-deficit injuries was increasing,” says Stephen Little, National Director of Client Services. “Our Winnipeg office requested that a resource be developed to address this trend. The trend is likely due to improvements in medical intervention and techniques. Recognizing that the range of incomplete injuries is quite wide, we felt it was appropriate to develop a resource that would assist these people to understand their injury--from the person with minimal discomfort through to the ‘walking quads’.

“We have also noted that many people who were diagnosed as having no deficits were coming back to our counsellors years later with complications from their injuries. This book will contain valuable information for them as well.”

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury contains chapters on medical information, functional implications, and life issues. However, perhaps its most significant value for some readers will come from its acknowledgement of the social implications of incomplete injury—there is a perception held by many, including some medical and rehabilitation professionals, that incomplete injury is somehow not as significant as complete SCI.

While a first glance might lead observers to believe someone who’s sustained an incomplete injury should feel “lucky” to be able to retain greater function than someone with complete injury, studies have shown that, three years after their incomplete injuries, people have a lower perceived well-being and self-image than those with complete injuries.

Little believes that this may be partially explained by the fact that many people with incomplete SCI have never gone through an intensive rehabilitation process that would have addressed many of the issues that are included in the new publication.

Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury is available to anyone for a nominal cost of $6.00. To order, please contact CPA National office by phone at (613) 723-1033 or e-mail  info@canparaplegic.org

(Note to CPA members: contact your provincial division to obtain this resource at a reduced price.)