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QSCIS
Queensland Spinal Cord Injuries Service

Right time

The bowel needs to be “re-trained” to empty at a regular and consistent time each day. This will allow some predictability around when the bowels may open. The goal is to be able to re-establish a routine for bowel emptying post spinal cord injury.

Depending upon pre injury bowel habit, this includes:

  • how often to attend a bowel routine
  • how long a bowel routine should take

Where to start

A good start is to keep a bowel diary of information such as the stool type; how long the routine takes; if there are any unplanned bowel movements; the type of food and fluids eaten and any changes in the regular routine.

Some factors to consider when choosing a time:

  • Work hours
  • Bowel habit prior to injury – for example, before or after breakfast
  • Availability of toileting facilities and care support

Upper motor neurone bowel injury

  • Daily or second daily is recommended, depending on pre-injury bowel habit.
  • Attending to bowel care 3 times per week or more is recommended
  • An average amount of time can be from 15-45 minutes, but this is reliant on the stool being low down in the bowel.

Lower motor neurone bowel injury

  • Ideally, a lower motor neurone bowel or cauda equina syndrome routine is managed once to twice a day.
  • An average amount of time can be from 15-30 minutes and this relies on the stool being low down in the bowel.