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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffTraumatic spinal cord injuries are emergencies. After your condition is stabilized, you'll be seeing numerous specialists, such as a doctor who specializes in nervous system disorders (neurologist), a surgeon who specializes in spinal cord injuries and other nervous system problems (neurosurgeon), and a surgeon who specializes in bone procedures (orthopaedic surgeon). Soon after, you'll also be introduced to your rehabilitation team, led by a doctor who specializes in spinal cord injury.
Here's some information that may help prepare you to speak with some of those doctors.
What you can do
- Keep track of any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated. If you're unable to write them down yourself, ask a family member or friend to do this for you.
- Ask a family member or friend to join you when you're speaking with your doctors, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all of the information provided to you. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor, or have someone write them down for you.
For a spinal cord injury, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What kinds of tests do I need? What information will these tests provide?
- What's my prognosis?
- What can I expect to happen short term? What can I expect in the long term regarding my condition?
- What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
- What types of side effects can I expect from treatment?
- Could surgery help me?
- What type of rehabilitation might help me?
- Are there any alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- Will I be able to work again?
- Can I still have sex?
- Will I be able to have children?
- Can I lead a productive life?
- What research is being done to help my condition?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material you can give me to read? Are there any Web sites that you recommend?
In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your time with your doctors if you don't understand something.
- Spinal cord injury: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sci/detail_sci.htm. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Spinal trauma. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec21/ch311/ch311a.html. Accessed June 17, 2009.
- Spinal cord injury FAQ. American Association of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/media/fact/spinal.asp. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Hansebout RR. Acute traumatic spinal cord injury. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 16, 2009.
- Mayer RS. Rehabilitation of individuals with cancer. In: Abeloff MD, et al. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/147442859-5/0/1709/1.html?tocnode=55014515&fromURL=1.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06694-8..X5001-5--TOP_1. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Spinal cord injury (SCI): Prevention tips. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/sciprevention.htm. Accessed July 2, 2009.
- Chiodo AE, et al. Spinal cord injury medicine: Long-term medical issues and health maintenance. Archives of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation. 2007;88:S76.
- Wuermser LA, et al. Spinal cord injury medicine: Acute care management of traumatic and nontraumatic injury. Archives of Physical Medicine Rehabilitation. 2007;88:S55.
- Beck LA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 21, 2009.
- Facts and figures at a glance. National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. http://www.spinalcord.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=119513&site=4716&return=19775. Accessed Aug. 25, 2009.
