National Paralysed Bowel Care Awareness Day: the importance of bowel care for people with spinal injuries

Posted: 27/02/2025

A new national awareness day, for paralysed bowel care, was created earlier this month. The day was launched in Westminster on 10 February, born out of a collaboration between a number of spinal cord charities. The aim of the day is to raise awareness and improve the training of medical professionals, with a view to benefiting patients.

How does bowel care relate to spinal injury?

Spinal cord injuries vary in severity and effect. Sometimes, the nerve pathway between the brain and the muscles lower in the body are broken or damaged by the injury. This can include muscles in the rectum and anus that help control the bowel.

Where this is the case, patients then may not be able to feel when they are ready for a bowel movement. They may also need help in having a bowel movement as they cannot use their muscles to ‘push’ out the stool in the same way as they could before their injury. This requires them to plan and consider how to manage their bowel movements in a way that uninjured people rarely have to do.

What is bowel care?

The extent and duration of the effect on the bowel will vary hugely depending on the type of injury sustained and the patient themselves. This means that the bowel care needed will vary too.

Sometimes, patients can be helped by specific medications and/or programs to regulate their bowels, so that bowel movements are easier to predict. If the person knows that they will need to go to the toilet at the same time every day, they may feel more confident and independent knowing that the rest of the day they do not have to worry about it.

To help with this process, various medications or techniques can be used to help train the bowel. Equipment can also be helpful, such as a special chair or commode, enemas, or other ways to stimulate the bowel. Depending on the patient’s ability, they may be able to learn to do this themselves, or may need support from a caregiver.

While the type of care required can vary a lot, the aim of bowel care is to help the patient gain as much freedom and dignity as possible, so that they can live up to their full potential.

Why is bowel care so important?

At the launch event for the awareness day, the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, said: ‘It’s vital that people with spinal injuries get the right care, which is why this first National Awareness Day for Paralysed Bowels is so important and should be the first of many.’

Poor bowel care can be dangerous. Bowel problems can lead to perforation, serious infections and even death. Even where the effects are not life-threatening, for many patients who experience problems with their bowel, it can be distressing and embarrassing.

Losing control over bowel movements can lead to a lack of freedom as people no longer feel able to go out and about. This can cause social isolation, lack of independence, loss of dignity and has a huge effect on mental health. Bowel care, therefore, is a key part of making sure that patients with spinal injuries can lead as full and rewarding a life as possible.

The Spinal Injuries Association estimates that around 457,000 people in the UK experience symptoms of paralysed bowels, and over half of the people they surveyed reported substandard bowel care. Currently, not all NHS trusts have a bowel care policy and not every nurse is trained in paralysed bowel care. This is something that the awareness day aims to change, so that training is improved for patients across the UK.

Where can I find out more information?

There are several charities involved in the awareness day:

• Spinal Injuries Association;
• Aspire (a spinal injury charity);
• Cauda Equina Spinal Cord Injury (CESCI);
• Spinal Research;
• Regain Sports (a sports charity for tetraplegic people);
• Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research;
• Shine (a spina bifida charity).

If you or a family member have suffered a spinal injury that may have been caused or worsened by medical failings, Penningtons Manches Cooper’s specialist team  may be able to help. If you would like further information, please contact us.

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