Spinal cord injuries are life-changing for patients of all ages. If you’re suffering from a recent injury or providing support to a friend or loved one, you likely have questions about the topic. Luckily, the medical professionals at Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, MN, can provide emergency care immediately after your mishap and certain types of rehabilitation services in the weeks and months that follow.

Here are answers to three commonly asked questions about spinal cord injuries:

• What Does the Spinal Cord Do? The spinal cord serves as a communication center between the brain and the body. Every second, the cord sends messages from your brain to your muscles and organs, telling them how to move and function. When the spinal cord is compromised, it slows or halts that essential communication.
• What Happens After a Spinal Cord Injury? When the spinal cord is damaged, often in a traumatic accident, it alters a patient’s motor skills and sensory perception. Severe injuries can affect movements like walking and involuntary activities like breathing and bladder function. Other symptoms include pain and muscle spasms. While there is no universal cure for spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation services can help patients regain their independence and motor skills.
• What Types of Rehabilitation Therapy Are Available? It all depends on the injury a patient sustains. In many cases, rehabilitation involves a team of medical professionals who specialize in physical, occupational, and, if necessary, speech therapy. The goal is to work with patients individually, helping them regain independence and lost motor skills. 

If you or a loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, contact the medical professionals at Mille Lacs Health System. Patients can seek emergency care at the main hospital in Onamia, or get ongoing rehabilitation in Onamia, Isle and Milaca. To make an appointment for rehabilitation, call (320) 532-3154, or visit the website for a full list of locations.