Preparing for an appointment

Traumatic spinal cord injuries are emergencies, and people who are injured might not be able to participate in their care at first.

A number of specialists will be involved in stabilizing the condition, including a doctor who specializes in nervous system disorders (neurologist) and a surgeon who specializes in spinal cord injuries and other nervous system problems (neurosurgeon), among others.

A doctor who specializes in spinal cord injuries will lead your rehabilitation team, which will include a variety of specialists.

If you have a possible spinal cord injury or you accompany someone who's had a spinal cord injury and can't provide the necessary information, here are some things you can do.

What you can do

• Be prepared to provide information about the circumstances of the event that caused the injury, including any that may seem unrelated.
• Have another family member or friend join you when you speak with the doctors, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help you remember the information you're given and communicate them to the person with the injury when appropriate.
• Write down questions to ask the doctors.

For a spinal cord injury, some basic questions to ask the doctor include:

• What's the prognosis?
• What will happen in the short term? What will happen over the long term? What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• Could surgery help?
• What type of rehabilitation might help?
• What research is being done to help this condition?
• Do you have brochures or other printed material? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions you have.

What to expect from the doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask questions, including:

• What were the circumstances that led to your injury?
• When did it occur?
• What do you do for work and leisure?
• With whom do you live?
• Tell me about your housing situation (home, apartment, number of stairs)?
• Do you or anyone in your family have a history of blood clots?
• Do you have any other medical conditions?