![Mayo Clinic home page [logo]](/images-global/mayologo.gif)
Discover how you can help support Mayo Clinic.
People who suffer devastating spinal cord injuries may need intensive help in adapting to a new way of life. Mayo Clinic specialists have experience in treating people with traumatic spinal cord injuries, as well as nontraumatic disorders such as tumors, transverse myelitis, myelopathies, spinal cord infarctions and aneurysms.
Mayo has a team of highly trained specialists including rehabilitation specialists (physiatrists), orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons who work together to determine the best treatment for each patient. The patient care team also includes psychologists and therapists who work with the patient's family to enhance adaptation and function.
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has a special spinal cord injury program which cares for approximately 200 people with new spinal cord injury or diseases each year. The extensive experience of the rehabilitation staff insures that patients in this program can typically expect their average functional improvement to meet or exceed the national norm.
Rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic is focused on developing self-reliance and establishing healthy interpersonal relationships. Mayo Clinic provides the tools and the expertise for the most successful outcome; however, Mayo recognizes that success also results from the patient's effort. Patients have an active role in setting goals for their rehabilitation.
Every year, about 11,000 Americans experience a spinal cord injury, which adds up to 200,000 people living today with spinal cord injury disability in the United States. Half of these result from trauma, such as car and diving accidents.
A diagnosis of spinal cord injury can be devastating. The sudden presence of disability can be frightening, frustrating and confusing to trauma victims and their families and friends, who naturally wonder how this injury will affect their everyday activities, jobs, relationships, dreams and long-term happiness.
Read more at
www.MayoClinic.com
A service of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
From the moment she woke up after her terrible accident, she was certain of one thing: she could recover. "I'm not very good at not being very good," she says.
Read Cindy's story.
See all patient stories related to Spinal Cord Rehabilitation.
Read all patient stories.
.
