Spinal Cord Injury Care in Sharjah

What is spinal cord injury care?

The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. When it is damaged, by a road accident, a fall, a sports injury or an illness such as infection, a tumour or reduced blood supply, the parts of the body below the level of damage change how they move, feel and work. The higher the injury, the more of the body is affected. An injury in the neck can affect the arms, breathing and blood pressure control, while an injury lower down mainly affects the legs, bladder and bowel.

Care after the first weeks is a long partnership. It combines regular medical review, rehabilitation to build strength and independence, and practical support at home and at work.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, our neurologist assesses the injury, manages its complications over time and helps coordinate the wider team. Intensive rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and specialist spinal nursing, is arranged by referral to a spinal injury or rehabilitation centre. Where surgery on the spine is being considered, our neurologist liaises with the neurosurgery team.

Who needs it

This service suits adults living with a spinal cord injury, whether it happened recently or many years ago, and people whose spinal cord has been affected by illness. It is also helpful for families moving to the UAE who want a local specialist to take over follow-up from a hospital abroad.

Common reasons to book include:

• Stiffness or painful muscle spasms that interfere with sleep, sitting or transfers
• Burning, electric or shooting nerve pain below the level of injury
• Changes in bladder or bowel control, or repeated urine infections
• Skin redness over the hips, tailbone or heels
• Low mood, worry or poor sleep
• A new change in strength or sensation, which needs prompt review

A sudden injury to the neck or back is an emergency and is handled through emergency services and the emergency department first.

What happens

The first appointment focuses on your story: how and when the injury happened, what treatment and rehabilitation you have had, and what daily life looks like now. Your neurologist then examines strength, sensation, reflexes and muscle tone to map the level of injury and compare it with earlier records.

Tests are chosen to answer specific questions. An MRI scan or CT scan through our radiology department shows the spine and spinal cord; see also neuroimaging. Nerve conduction studies and EMG help separate spinal cord problems from damage to the nerves in the arms and legs, which is useful when new numbness or weakness appears.

From there, care is built around your goals:

| Area | What the neurologist looks at |
|---|---|
| Spasticity | Stretching routines, medicines that relax muscles, and botulinum toxin injections for specific muscles |
| Nerve pain | Medicines aimed at nerve pain and ways to manage flare-ups |
| Bladder and bowel | A regular routine, infection prevention and referral to urology when needed |
| Skin | Pressure relief, cushions, turning and daily skin checks |
| Mood and sleep | Screening for low mood and referral for psychological support |

Referral letters for intensive rehabilitation, equipment assessment and therapy go to the most suitable centre, and reports come back to your neurologist for ongoing review.

Preparing for it

• Bring discharge summaries, operation notes and rehabilitation reports from every hospital involved, in any language
• Bring recent scans on disc, with their written reports
• List all medicines, including those for bladder, bowel and muscle stiffness
• Keep a short diary of spasms, pain and bladder routine for two weeks
• Bring a family member or carer who helps with daily care
• Ask about wheelchair access and parking when you call

Afterwards

You leave with a written plan covering medicines, daily routines, any tests and the referrals agreed. Follow-up visits track progress and adjust treatment as needs change over the years.

The UAE climate matters here. Many people with high injuries sweat less below the injury level and struggle to regulate body temperature, so heat and dehydration in summer can quickly lead to overheating. Stay in cool environments, drink regularly and plan outdoor time for early morning or evening. If you fast during Ramadan, discuss timing of medicines and your bladder routine with your neurologist before the month begins.

Contact your doctor for a review if spasms increase, a pressure mark appears, urine becomes cloudy or strong-smelling, or your mood drops.

Autonomic dysreflexia is an emergency in people with injuries at or above the middle of the back. A sudden pounding headache, very high blood pressure, sweating or flushing above the injury, or a blocked nose means sitting upright, loosening tight clothing, checking the catheter or bladder, and calling emergency services if it does not settle quickly.

New weakness, new loss of sensation, fever with back pain, or difficulty breathing also needs the emergency department straight away.

Cost and insurance

Neurology consultations, scans and nerve tests are covered by many UAE insurance plans, with MRI often needing pre-approval. Inpatient rehabilitation, therapy sessions and equipment are usually approved separately and in advance. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.