Bowel Function After Spinal Cord Injury.

The Spinal Cord Injury Model System is sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education. (See http://www.msktc.org/sci/ model-system-centers for more information). What you need to know A spinal cord injury can lead to bowel problems:  You may have problems moving waste through your colon (or large intestine).  You may pass a stool when you don’t want to, or a stool may be hard to pass.  These problems can cause pain in your abdomen.  When eating, you may feel full sooner than normal, or you may eat less than you usually do.  Bowel problems can contribute to depression or anxiety. You may feel overly concerned about not being able to control bowel movements in public. You may not want to do things outside of your home.