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Spinal Cord Injury & Catheters
Explore catheter options, learn about our Peer Support team, and find more practical resources for living with SCI.
After a spinal cord injury (SCI), the nerves connected to your bladder may be damaged. This can change the way your bladder stores and releases urine. Depending on the level of injury, some people with SCI may need to use catheter supplies due to bladder retention or incomplete bladder emptying.
At 180 Medical, supporting people with SCI is personal to us. Our company was founded by Todd Brown after his spinal cord injury in 1994. We have decades of experience helping people find the intermittent catheter supplies that fit their prescriptions, insurance coverage, needs, and preferences.
Whether you're new to catheters after a spinal cord injury, looking for catheters that may be easier to use with limited hand dexterity, or just needing tips for life after SCI, 180 Medical offers lots of educational articles and tips, many written by real people living with spinal cord injuries, including our Patient Advocate, Steve.
Using Intermittent Catheters After Spinal Cord Injury
For many people with spinal cord injuries, intermittent catheterization is a common bladder management method often taught while they're still in the rehab facility after their injury. This depends on the level of injury and how it affects the bladder.
Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how often to catheterize, what catheter French size is right for you, and go over the basics of intermittent catheterization.
Some people with SCI prefer intermittent catheters to support bladder emptying without the need to wear an indwelling catheter and drainage bag or leg bag at all times. It all depends on your personal situation, preferences, and your healthcare provider's recommendations.
If you've been prescribed intermittent catheter supplies, 180 Medical can help you explore your catheter options.
What Are Your Catheter Options with a Spinal Cord Injury?
The important thing to keep in mind is that there's no single catheter type, size, or brand that works for everyone. Your individual needs depend on your level of injury, mobility, hand function, and activity level. Plus, it may depend on whether you have or need caregiver support.
Steve has firsthand experience with trying multiple types and brands of catheters as a quadriplegic, and he says it's important to practice and try out different options until you find one that works well for you.
He's written an article from his personal view about which catheter types may be right for people with spinal cord injuries.
Here are a few features that may be helpful:
- Pre-lubricated or ready-to-use hydrophilic catheters may be easier than a catheter that requires manual lubrication or activation.
- Closed system catheters may be helpful for people who don't want to have to transfer to a toilet each time they cath, due to having an attached or integrated collection bag.
- Some catheters, such as the Cure Dextra®, offer unique features designed to help people with limited hand dexterity advance and insert the catheter more easily.
- Compact pocket catheters may be ideal if you'd like to store more than a few in a backpack on your wheelchair or tuck one into your pocket for privacy.
- An extra-long catheter or a catheter extension tube may be helpful if you prefer an uncoated straight catheter but don't want to transfer from your chair to cath.
Talk to your healthcare provider to determine what may be right for you. Our specialists can also ask the right questions to understand your needs and explore catheter samples that may be easier to handle and use.
Peer Support for People with SCI
Living with a spinal cord injury can come with a lot of challenges and emotional adjustments. Sometimes, it might help to talk with someone who understands what life after SCI or what it feels like to be new to using catheters.
180 Medical's Peer Support Team includes real people living with SCI who use catheters daily. They're passionate about helping others, encouraging people through challenges, and offering practical support grounded in their lived experience.
If you'd like to talk to one of our Peer Support team members, reach out through the form on our Peer Support page to get started. We're here for you!
More Resources for Living with a Spinal Cord Injury
Adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury can mean relearning new ways of everyday activities, such as getting dressed, showering, traveling, driving, going to work, and more.
At 180 Medical, many of our spinal cord injury resources are written or reviewed by people with spinal cord injuries, including:
- Getting Dressed Independently After SCI
- Creating an Exercise Routine with SCI
- Driving After Spinal Cord Injury
- Life After SCI: Grieving, Coping, and Moving Forward
- Tips for Traveling with a Wheelchair
- Tips for Taking a Shower with a Spinal Cord Injury
Plus, here are a few helpful videos for new wheelchair users, including general how-tos like how to pump your own gas, how to get in and out of your car with a spinal cord injury, and more.
Curious about catheter options for SCI?
Our specialists can verify your insurance and go over your potential catheter options that fit your prescription and needs. Get started by requesting free samples!
Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury and Catheters
Get answers to common questions about using catheters after a spinal cord injury, including catheter types, samples, insurance coverage, and learning how to cath independently.
Medicare Coverage for Closed System Catheters
Insured patients with a documented SCI at any level may now be eligible for closed system catheters.
Interested? Our specialists can help!