Your central hub for information, support tools, and practical advice.

We have a wealth of knowledge to share with you about living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and have pulled this together in this section to help you access the information you need, when you need it.

Sexuality and relationships after spinal cord injury

Learn about intimacy, sex, dating, long-term relationships, parenting and family life for people with a spinal cord injury.

Fertility following spinal cord injury: Information for health professionals

There have been many medical advances over the years that have helped people with SCI have children. This document provides...

Female sexuality after spinal cord injury

After a sci, many individuals may experience some loss of sexual function at or below the level of their injury....

To stoma or not to stoma

Ian Douglas shares how getting a colostomy earlier in the year has dramatically improved his life, freeing him from a...

Life with spinal cord injury

New Mobility asked four wheelchair users at different points in their SCI journeys to reflect on where they are and...

I Am More Than My Disability SCIAW 2022

It's Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week in Australia, and SCIA is celebrating it by telling people we are more than...

Most people with spinal cord injuries will experience bladder and bowel changes. With proper continence care, we will improve the quality of our life and build our confidence.

Continence Care for Spinal Cord Injuries

Continence is the ability to control bladder and bowel function. After a spinal cord injury, we will get some bladder and bowel changes. However, the type and symptoms will differ based on the damage’s characteristics, such as the level and completeness of the injury.

As a result, we need to find the methods, techniques and tools that best suit us. Although we may not regain the control we had before, we will have the confidence to make things easier with them. For example,

An intermittent catheterization program (ICP) drains the bladder on a schedule (every four to six hours is typical).
A reflex method triggered by stimulation, straining, or pressure usually works well for persons with high-level injuries.
Persons with low-level injuries may require abdominal pressure or straining to assist bowel evacuation.

The NDIS for continence care

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has covered continence support. It fits participants five or older who regularly experience incontinence, day or night. We don’t provide consumables directly, but our NDIS Support Coordinators will assist you in making and implementing the NDIS plans and achieving your goals in this area.

In addition, we have more ideas that will help you how to develop a regular continence program. Please access the continence page for more information.