Spinal Cord Injury and Catheter Supplies

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.

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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.

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Peer Support for People with Spinal Cord Injuries

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 being new to using catheters feels like.

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!

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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:

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Spinal Cord Injury and Catheter Supplies

Why do I need to use catheters after my spinal cord injury?

Not everyone with a spinal cord injury needs to use catheters. However, depending on your level of injury, how it affected your bladder, and your healthcare provider’s recommendations, you may need to use catheters to drain the bladder regularly.

This is because a spinal cord injury affects the nerve signals to the bladder, which help it hold urine and release it when it’s time.

After a spinal cord injury, some people cannot empty their bladder completely. Intermittent catheterization may be prescribed as part of a bladder management routine for some.

How do I catheterize myself after my spinal cord injury?

Depending on your level of hand dexterity and needs, you may be able to learn to independently self-catheterize.

Our Patient Advocate, Steve, has lived with quadriplegia for over 30 years, and he understands firsthand that it can be a challenge to learn to independently self-cath, especially at first.

However, with practice, time, and finding the right catheter for your needs, self-catheterization may be an option.

Depending on the level of injury, some people with a spinal cord injury may need a trusted loved one or a caregiver to perform clean intermittent catheterization for them. Just make sure your healthcare provider approves and has instructed them on how to safely catheterize you.

Steve shares his practical tips for learning how to self-catheterize after a spinal cord injury. If you’d like more help and info, 180 Medical offers lots of step-by-step instructions and easy video guides at HowToCath.com, including a personalizable video guide for people in wheelchairs.

Go to HowToCath.com

What type of catheter is best for people with paraplegia or quadriplegia?

The best catheter for you depends on your individual needs. Take into account your body, hand function, mobility, and preferences. Plus, it will depend on your prescription and your health insurance coverage for catheters.

Not sure what catheter supplies your insurance will cover? 180 Medical can verify your plan and coordinate with your doctor or healthcare provider for your prescription and any required documentation.

Then, our specialists will take the time to answer any questions and help you understand the options available to you.

Can I get catheter samples before choosing?

In many cases, yes. 180 Medical may be able to send you free catheter samples based on your prescription, insurance, and needs.

Get started by requesting free samples here!

Does insurance cover catheters for people with SCI?

Many insurance plans cover intermittent catheters when they are medically necessary and prescribed. This may include Medicare, some state Medicaid plans, and many private insurance plans.

Some plans may cover straight, uncoated intermittent catheters and lubricant, while others may cover hydrophilic or ready-to-use catheters.

The number of catheters you are eligible to receive per month depends on your plan’s coverage, your prescription, and supporting documentation.

As of January 2026, Medicare may cover closed system catheters for people with documented spinal cord injuries.

Reach out to 180 Medical to have your insurance verified. We’ll go over your options based on your prescription, documentation, and insurance coverage.