Aging and SCI

[Shawn]

What are the affects of aging with SCI? Does one's health deteriorate faster? Given the different SCI injury levels and injury uniqueness, what is the average number of years a person can survive with SCI? http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

[giambjj]

UAB says that if you are a Quad you can live 40 more years after the injury, para up to 50 more.
But I don't beleive that! With good health care you can live a near normal life expectancy! http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

[SCI-Nurse]

Here are some statistics on AVERAGE life expectance after SCI. Note that the age at onset is important. This is based on one of the largest databases in the world on SCI from the SCI Model System Centers. People injured today can probably depend on these numbers ever improving as care improves.

http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=21446

There are some excellent FAQ sheets and information on aging and SCI at these sites:

http://www.craighospital.com

http://www.agingwithdisability.org

http://www.agingwithsci.org

http://www.jik.com

(KLD)