297: Best Practice For Managing Post-SCI Bowel And Bladder With Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L

In this week’s episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS is joined by OT mentor Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS to dive into one of the most essential topics in spinal cord injury rehab: bowel and bladder care. We unpack why every rehab professional (not just nursing) plays a role, how unmanaged bowel and bladder can lead to serious health issues, and practical strategies to support independence, dignity, and community reintegration. Brianna shares equipment ideas, education tips, and real-world problem-solving for both bladder and bowel programs, plus how this all connects to intimacy, relationships, and quality of life after SCI.  

Resources:

• Follow Mason Ellis on YouTube and share with your patients!
• Find a peer mentor through Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation
• facingdisability.com
• https://www.sexualitysci.org/
• https://otafterdark.com/
• https://msktc.org/sci/factsheets/sexuality-sexual-functioning-after-sci
• https://craighospital.org/resources/sexual-function-for-women-after-spinal-cord-injury

**As a note there are a couple of corrections in the episode we wanted to make clear:

Bri may have misspoke… suprapubic catheters are placed below the belly button, not above.

She may have said you can wear a bag with it, but you don't always have to. Disclaimer would be to defer to urology.