From its inception, our organization has looked for ways for our membership to be healthy and stay healthy. We have partnered with nurses, doctors, and social workers to ensure better health care for all persons with spinal cord injuries/disorders (SCI/D). We have also worked with hospitals and administrations to make their facilities the best in the world. But no matter how hard we try, no matter how much lobbying we do, we need you to take an active role in your health care. If you are receiving medical retirement, your health care is your fulltime job. If you are not retired, staying healthy is, at the very least, a very demanding second job.
For me personally, staying healthy has meant staying active. For many years sports helped me keep my mind engaged and my body in good physical shape. I also do my best to share what I learn with others and have experienced the thrill of helping persons with disabilities rediscover their abilities and find ways for integration and inclusion. Working with veterans organizations has kept me busy over the years, but I have always strived to train daily and compete regularly. In addition to the obvious benefits, staying active has served as a great social outlet and has helped me build a network of friends who understand the challenges we face maintaining good health.
There are many things you can do to stay healthy. In addition to the basics-good nutrition, exercise, adequate sleep-we cannot forget our regular checkups. Examinations from qualified specialists should be a priority for all of us with SCI/D. The specialty of spinal cord medicine was born from the actions of this organization, and having doctors who know the possible problems makes preventative care a reality.
For many of us, using alternative medicine in conjunction with Western medicine is a way to take care of our health. I personally studied massage therapy and acupuncture many years ago, which afforded me other options to take care of my health as well as the opportunity to help others.
The person we often forget in our health care is our caregiver, who is often not a nurse, but rather a spouse or significant other. If our health care is not in control, the work of our caregiver is magnified. While a caregiver’s work may be a “labor of love,” there are not enough words of praise for what they do for us.
The statement “As long as you have your health” is bandied about, but often not heard in relation to those of us with SCI/D. It is up to us to change that misconception by being as healthy as we can be, both physically and mentally. Stay healthy, active, and involved!
Clair Russell Hesselton, PhD
President
