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Frequently Asked
Questions
1. How long
will I be in rehabilitation?
2. How much
therapy will I receive?
3. Can
my family be part of rehabilitation?
4. How old are
the other patients?
5. Can I go
back to school or to work?
6.
How is research progressing ... will there ever be a cure
for spinal cord injuries?
1. How
long will I be in rehabilitation?
The average length of stay in the 6A inpatient
Rehabilitation Unit for persons with new spinal cord
injuries varies according to the severity and level of
injury. A tentative discharge date will be established
within a week of admission to the rehabilitation unit and
will be assessed at the weekly multidisciplinary team
conference. Admissions on the Rehabilitation Unit range on
average one week to six weeks. Upon discharge, you will
continue in rehabilitation at our outpatient program at
MedRehab for a period of several weeks to several months.
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2. How much
therapy will I receive?
The number and length of daily inpatient therapy sessions
will depend on a person’s condition and treatment
priorities, as determined by the attending physician and
rehabilitation team. A minimum of 3 hours a day of therapy
from Monday through Friday and up to 3 hours during the
weekend are offered in the 6A inpatient program. Therapies
are provided on one-on-one and group settings and treatment
is individualized for every patient. Your attendance to
therapy is essential to maximize recovery.
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3. Can
my family be part of rehabilitation?
Families are encouraged to become involved in rehabilitation
program activities. Families or friends are taught how to
provide needed assistance and how to encourage their loved
one in achieving maximal independence as quickly as
possible. Family involvement begins as soon as possible to
begin this learning.
Patients’ families also can take advantage of the hospital’s
convenient on-site hotel, Med-Inn, during rehabilitation
hospitalization. The number for Med-Inn is 1-800-544-8684.
For those in outpatient rehabilitation, there are a number
of hotels in the Briarwood Mall area near our MedRehab
outpatient rehabilitation services.
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4. How old are
the other patients?
Patients on the 6A rehabilitation unit of University of
Michigan Hospital or at the MedRehab outpatient
rehabilitation program may be of any age over 18. Typically,
over half of patients are between 18-40 years of age.
Generally, the patients under age 18 are treated in the
rehabilitation unit of C. S. Mott Children's Hospital, on
the U-M Medical Center campus.
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5. Can I go
back to school or to work?
More than 90% of patients with new SCI are discharged to
private residences after comprehensive inpatient
rehabilitation. Every effort is made to assist the person to
return to a productive life, including employment,
homemaking and education. Individuals continue in outpatient
rehabilitation and referrals are made to community
resources, such as the Center for Independent Living and the
Michigan Department for Career Development, to assist with
the transition from home to the community.
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6.
How is research progressing ... will there ever be a cure
for spinal cord injuries?
Currently there are no proven cures for SCI, although many
persons show some improvement of nerve function during the
first year after injury. However, innovative research
efforts on nerve regeneration and cell transplantation are
growing. Active participation in rehabilitation activities
helps to maximize functional skills and avoid complications,
while waiting to benefit from future research. As a Model
System, the U-M program is well aware of all new drug trials
and treatment protocols designed to find faster recovery for
those with SCI.
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