Life after a spinal cord injury

NIETGEDACHT – Navigating life after a disability-causing injury can be difficult, which is why the Life Riverfield Lodge hosted it's second annual Spinal Cord Injury Conference on 29 March.

April 8, 2019

Robyn Kirk 2 minutes read

Clinic manager for Life Riverfield Lodge Carey MacColl said the conference was a chance for those affected by spinal cord injuries to learn about life after their injuries. Photo: Robyn Kirk

A spinal cord injury is life-changing, but it doesn’t mean that your life is over.

On 29 March Life Riverfield Lodge hosted its second annual Spinal Cord Injury Conference at their grounds in Nietgedacht. The event was a chance for patients who have suffered spinal or other debilitating injuries, their loved ones, their carers and medical professionals to learn more about life after an injury that causes long-term effects. About 80 members of the public were present for the day, and a total of 14 companies exhibited their disability-related merchandise.

“This is our second year hosting a spinal cord injury workshop, and this year’s theme was ‘where to from here’,” explained Carey MacColl, the clinic manager for Life Riverfield Lodge. “We hosted this so that patients could learn about how to live again after they have finished rehabilitation.”

A number of guest speakers were invited on the day to talk about issues such as gaining employment, sexual function and the ability to drive after an injury that impacts one’s mobility in some way.

George Louw, who is himself a wheelchair user, gave a talk to attendees on using a wheelchair as you get older. Photo: Robyn Kirk

Guest speaker Rustim Ariefdien calls himself a ‘disability expert extraordinaire’.
Photos: Robyn Kirk

Talks were held with two different audiences in mind – those personally affected by injuries (the patients themselves, their loved ones and the people who care for them) and professionals who work with those types of injuries.

Perhaps the most interesting presentation was held by Caroline Rule, who is an occupational therapist that works on helping the disabled learn to drive again. At 10am on the day she gave a special presentation to patients about the ins and outs of driving with a disability and even brought along two specially-adapted cars that have been modified to allow quadriplegics and paraplegics to use them.

“Disabilities affect different people differently,” she said to the gathered crowd. “Being able to drive [with a disability] will depend on a number of factors including cognitive and physical function. “Likewise, the adaptions you would need on your car would depend on your abilities – it’s a personal preference and you get to decide what works for you.”

Occupational therapist Caroline Rule stands next to a Renault which has been specially adapted in order to allow those affected by spinal cord injuries to still drive.

As well as sharing resources for patients as to where they can get help obtaining a driver’s licence, take driving lessons and get the necessary adaptions to their vehicles. Rule also brought along two adapted vehicles that had been donated to the Quadpara Association of South Africa (Qasa) so people could get a real insight into the types of changes which can be made to accommodate them.