Spinal Cord Injury Care

Patient Care – What to Expect

Our team will help you with everything from maximizing your independence to boosting your mental health. Here’s why patients choose Carolinas Rehabilitation:

• Care for life: We’re by your side for the long haul. We’ll help you at any point in your recovery and support you for years to come.
• Expertise in getting you back to daily life: From basic skills like bathing and household mobility to riding the bus and community activities, we’ll help you get comfortable with the things that matter most to you. We offer a transitional living apartment, to simulate your home environment and help you practice routine tasks before leaving the hospital. We encourage families to participate in your program to learn what life will be like when you return home.
• Help with home modifications: Our specialists can help you understand if you need to make any changes to your home after your injury. These changes, such as installing a wheelchair ramp or widening doorways, can make it easier for you to navigate your home and daily life.
• Improved quality of life: A spinal cord injury can affect every part of your life. We created the Living Fit and Engaged (LIFE) program to help improve your quality of life through exercise, employment counseling, and training that can help you start or return to school, work or volunteering.
• Access to advanced technology and clinical trials: Our team is actively involved in research, working to find new ways to help patients like you. We go out of our way to give our clients access to the best equipment, treatments and medications.
• Specialized care for women: Most gynecologist offices don’t have exam tables for women with disabilities. Atrium Health is home to gynecologists who are trained to work with women with disabilities and can care for all their needs.
• Emergency preparedness: People with spinal cord injuries may have additional equipment or needs that make evacuating in an emergency difficult. Our team helps prepare plans and documents to facilitate a safe evacuation.

What We Treat

No matter what type of spinal cord injury you’ve had, we’ll pair you with a specialist who knows exactly how to help. We care for patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries as well as those with conditions that affect the spinal cord such as:

• Cancer
• Degenerative disk disease
• Failed back or neck surgery syndrome
• Fractures
• Peripheral nerve injuries or compression syndromes
• Rheumatologic disorders
• Spinal deformity
• Sports injuries
• Work injuries

Treatments and Programs for Spinal Cord Injuries

We create an individualized treatment program for each patient. We offer the following treatments for inpatients and outpatients:

• Baclofen Program: For appropriate individuals, we can implant a device that manages spasms and unwanted movement in your muscles, helping keep them from getting constricted or strained.
• Dry needling: Some people experience muscle pain after their spinal cord injury. Our certified therapists can use a technique called dry needling, where they insert a thin needle into specific areas to help relieve pain.
• Electrical stimulation: We use technology to send mild electrical impulses to specific muscles to help keep them active.
• Fitness and recreation programs: Our patients can take advantage of fitness and recreation programs tailored to people with spinal cord injuries. These programs include yoga and Zumba classes and our Adaptive Sports and Adventure Program. We also host a “Walk, Roll or Run” event during Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month. Plus, we have exercise videos, created by our experts, specially designed for people with spinal cord injuries.
• Robot-assisted gait training: Your pattern of stepping or walking is called your “gait.” If your spine injury affected your legs, you may benefit from gait training as part of your rehab program. Our therapists use special robotic machines to help you work on walking safely and efficiently while building your strength and mobility – and we’re one of the few rehabilitation centers in the country with access to this advanced technology.
• Training and support groups: We offer educational materials and a 10-day spinal cord injury education series for inpatients right after their injury. We also host support groups where patients and their loved ones can connect with others who understand what you’re going through.

Your Care Team

Our specialists work together to help you deal with a spinal cord injury. This team approach means we can provide expert care for your exact needs. Our team includes:

• Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians who are board-certified in spinal cord injury. These specialists help you manage medical issues related to your injury and oversee your care.
• Rehabilitation certified registered nurses and certified nursing assistants who are by your side throughout treatment and have deep experience caring for patients like you.
• Medical social workers who help families find financial assistance, connect with support groups and more.
• Physical therapists who specialize in helping you get stronger, improve your mobility and decrease pain.
• Occupational therapists who help you regain the skills and strength you need to get back to your job, school and daily life.
• Speech and language pathologists speech therapists who assess and diagnose swallowing, speech and communication issues you.
• Recreational therapists who use activities like arts, crafts, sports and games to help you improve or maintain your physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual health.
• Wound care specialists can help treat and prevent open wounds and guard against infection.
• On-call chaplains can provide spiritual support for those who want it during treatment.