Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
San Francisco Bay Area · Los Angeles · San Diego
Most spinal cord injury recovery occurs within 6 months after injury. To maximize recovery, rehabilitation should be commenced as soon as possible after injury.
Rehabilitation hospitals provide specialists to assist in various aspects of the recovery process. Physiatrists are physicians who specialize in physical and rehabilitative medicine. Physical therapists use therapy to strengthen muscles in non-paralyzed parts of the body. Occupational therapists train patients to relearn the tasks of daily living and to use assistive devices, including equipment and braces. Family members, as well as patients, must receive education in assisting the injured person. In addition to facilitating recovery, rehabilitation also aims to prevent atrophy and reverse “learned non-use.”
Patients must learn new ways to manage their daily activities, hygiene and health. Personalized functional goals may include:
- Improving verbal communication to direct caregivers in daily hygiene;
- Becoming adept with assistive technology, including specialized wheelchairs, beds, and leg braces;
- Developing ability to manage health care independently (to the extent possible, depending on the level of injury);
- To develop strength (some patients learn to relieve pressure by doing wheelchair pushup).
One of the most important parts of any legal case is proving the cost and extent of future rehabilitative needs. The San Francisco, California spinal cord attorneys at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger have worked with life care planners, vocational rehabilitation experts, economists, physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, and a host of other allied specialists to make sure that their clients are protected – and to develop settlement proposals and trial presentations which fully outline and describe our client’s future rehabilitative needs. If you or a loved one has been injured through the faults or neglect of another, and you are concerned about making sure that your future rehabilitation needs are met, call the spinal cord lawyers at Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger at 888.732.8897.
