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Staying Warm with a Spinal Cord Injury - Origin Care

6th January 2025

Winter is now well and truly upon us and already we are seeing a mix of weather. According to the Met Office we have been experiencing milder than average winters but with wintry spells and the odd storm. Really, no surprise there then.

Living with a spinal cord injury of course brings its own set of complications not least the inability to regulate body temperature, this process, called thermoregulation, effectively means that straying too far above or below the average body temperature (between 37°C and 37.8°C. The brain is informing the body of its need to regulate temperature, but having SCI means these signals are interrupted.

When you live with a spinal cord injury, your body’s inability to respond appropriately is impacted in numerous ways. Not walking is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s bowel and bladder dysfunction to contend with too, and there’s body temperature.

SCI people with higher level spinal cord injuries are generally more sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Those with complete injuries also experience less effective thermoregulation. Incomplete spinal cord injuries may retain some thermoregulation below their level of injury because some neural pathways in the spinal cord may have been spared.

Of course, all this is well known in the SCI and associated professionals, but it does pay to be mindful of the change in weather.

We have put together some information that, we hope, will contribute to keeping all our clients safe and well, informing PAs so that they feel they have additional knowledge regarding thermoregulation and generally sharing what we know anyone who has an interest in thermoregulation.

How do we know if we’re too cold.

Above the level of injury, the face and book may feel cold to touch, autonomic dyslexia may be experience, looking pale, weaker pulse and possibly slurred speech.

How do you keep warm with a spinal cord injury?

  • Try wearing more layers. Cover your head and feet.
  • Keep homes warm and draught free.
  • Try a wheat pack around your neck
  • Ensure PAs are aware of keeping heaters close but not too close, we want to avoid skin burns.
  • When out and about, wrap up well, cover your head, wear gloves or mittens
  • Consider how long you are out of doors, best not stay out too long.

Some useful links for further information.:

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