In many ways, the suggested courses of action are the same for you as well as your loved one with a spinal cord injury. The focus is to promote optimal short- and long-term health and quality of life of the person who is injured.

1. Be supportive! Although there is little you can do for recovery of function, you can be a great help to your loved one by being supportive of his/her therapeutic goals. Help with any activity if needed, but allow him/her to do things if it is within the person’s abilities.
2. Listen to the doctors and nurses caring for your loved one. Do not be afraid to ask questions, but understand that you may not get definite answers. Sometimes you just have to wait and see what happens, especially when it comes to recovery of function. You can learn about SCI by from reliable sources. The UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS) is a good place to start your education.

See Resources
Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: Part 1 - The Body Before and After Injury (PDF) (en español)
This fact sheet is intended to be a starting point for understanding the normal functions of the spinal cord and how those functions might change after spinal cord injury. This and other fact sheets from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center provide useful health information that is based on research evidence and/or professional consensus and has been reviewed and approved by the SCI Model Systems editorial team of experts.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injury: Part 2 - Recovery and Rehabilitation (PDF) (en español)
Recovery and Rehabilitation is important to returning to functioning back to normal. There is no cure for SCI but you can learn the potential areas for improvement. This and othe fact sheets from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center provide useful health information that is based on research evidence and/or professional consensus and has been reviewed and approved by the SCI Model Systems editorial team of experts.

Spinal Cord Injury
A chapter from the Spinal Cord Injury Patient – Family Teaching Manual published by the Regional Spinal Cord Injury Center of the Delaware Valley (RSCICDV) at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. Spanish

Spinal Cord Injury Manual for Patients and Families
An online resource of information on SCI health, rehabilitation, and support. The information is provided by the Louis Calder Memorial Library of the University of Miami School of Medicine (UMSM) and related organizations.

Understanding Spinal Cord Impairments and Functional Goals
This 26 minute video offers a basic understanding of the normal function of the spinal cord and the impact of impairment at different types and levels of injury. In addition, functional goals are addressed for levels of impairment. This video 1 in an 11-part video series provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham Spinal Cord Injury Model System (UAB-SCIMS).