Hi

I used to play wheelchair sports with a number of kids and adults with spina bifida. Some of them could walk and others used a chair for mobility all the time. Some people had to use aids for toiletting and others had full bladder and bowel control.

Some of the differences are due to the level of the lesion, and it also depends on how severe the lesion is-whether it affects just the bone or whether the spinal cord is also affected.

I also have a friend with very mild spina bifida (occulta) where it wasn't diagnosed until she was a teen, and she has very little symptoms.

Most of the people i know are now adults and drive and work and do all the 'normal' things people do.

Spina bif can be associated with other conditions such as hydrocephalus (water on the brain), which is a treatable condition.

Is there any specific info you are looking for?

Kate