Taking special care related to dizziness and swelling
Dizziness and fainting
After a spinal cord injury, a person may experience a change or variation in their blood pressure. Sometimes blood pressure may be lower or drop quickly, which can cause dizzy spells. This happens most often when you sit up too fast. It can also happen when getting up for the first time after being in bed for a few days.
People with cervical injuries have the most problems with fainting and dizziness.
When dizzy spells happen, lay down flat and keep the feet up if you are able to walk. Have someone slowly lean your wheelchair backwards to lower your head and raise your feet if you are in a wheelchair or unable to walk.
Here are a few tips to help prevent dizzy spells:
- Sit up and get out of bed slowly. Prop your body on some pillows for about 15 minutes before actually getting up.
- Wear TED hose if your doctor has ordered them.
- Wear an abdominal binder if your doctor has ordered one.
- Do not move the body too fast when doing weight shifts because it may make dizziness worse.
- Drink 1 or 2 glasses of fluids prior to getting up.
Swelling
A person recovering from injury may experience swelling because of loss of movement or muscle tone and decreased blood flow from the legs.
Swelling can also happen if there is a blood clot. The blood clot may be called a deep vein thrombosis. A blood clot is a medical emergency. Get help immediately.
Swelling can also be caused by extra calcium forming around a joint. When this type of swelling happens, it is called heterotopic ossification. A blood clot or calcium problem should be seen by the doctor right away.
Here are some tips that may help with swelling not caused by a blood clot:
- When in bed, raise your feet and legs on 2 to 4 pillows. Be sure to pad and position yourself to prevent skin problems.
- When out of bed, be sure to raise your legs for 30 minutes several times a day. This can be done by raising the footrest on the wheelchair. Be sure to pad and position yourself to prevent skin problems.
- Wear TED hose of your doctor has ordered them.
- Call the doctor quickly if swelling does not go away after being in bed all day, if the swollen area becomes red, warm and/or painful, and/or if the swelling is in one leg or foot only.