Courtney's Story

When Courtney Anderson wasn’t working as a dental office receptionist in Sandusky, Ohio, she was busy with her nine-year-old daughter and two dogs, spending summers by the pool or vacationing with family and friends.

One summer day the 39-year-old dipped her legs in her pool and immediately knew something was wrong – she couldn’t feel the cold water.

When Courtney began to lose sensation in her legs and struggled with incontinence, she assumed it was caused by a series of four previous back surgeries. But as the loss of sensation advanced into weakness then falls, Courtney relied on a cane and later a walker and sought advice from her doctor who scheduled an MRI.

The diagnostic test showed that Courtney had a herniated spinal cord between the sixth and seventh vertebrae – in other words, the middle of her back. The rare condition caused Courtney’s spinal cord to protrude through her spine causing the loss of sensation, weakness and incontinence.

Doctors at Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital performed a spinal laminectomy, or when part of the vertebra is removed to relieve pressure and putting the spinal cord back into place so it can heal.

After nine days in the hospital, including five in the ICU, Courtney began receiving therapy. She was able to get into a wheelchair, freeing her to leave her room and visit with family but was still struggling to feel or move her legs. When her surgeon recommended inpatient rehabilitation in hopes of getting her walking again, Courtney chose Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Avon due to the state-of-the-art technology offered.

Upon arrival in rehab, Courtney was still dealing with an array of issues – lower body weakness, the inability to walk and incontinence. She needed assistance to sit upright and manage personal care tasks. While anxious and depressed, she remained hopeful because feeling had started to come back in her legs and believed the physician-led care team at Avon could build on that progress. Her goals were simple – she wanted to stand and walk again.

Courtney’s care team of nurses, physical and occupational therapists, crafted a custom plan for Courtney to get her back on her feet.

Physical therapists used a variety of specialized rehabilitation equipment to help get Courtney upright again. Her sessions included using an exoskeleton, which is a wearable robotic device that helps a patient stand and move their legs. Repeated use of the exoskeleton helped improve Courtney’s stamina while strengthening her legs.

Working on the parallel bars was another regular activity where Courtney practiced standing with her care team, further strengthening in her legs and solidifying her ability to balance.

Courtney progressed as she was comfortably cinched into a harness that attached to a ceiling mounted track. The device kept her securely upright as she took steps on a circuit around the therapy gym using a special walker with arm supports. As her time in rehab went on, Courtney was able to join a community outing to a local restaurant. While the outing gave her a taste of independence, it was also another form of therapy as she practiced getting in and out of a car and navigating around a crowded place in her wheelchair. “Every day I was able to accomplish more,” Courtney said. “I got stronger in therapy because of all the technology in the therapy gym.”

While physical therapy focused on improving Courtney’s mobility, occupational therapists helped her regain her independence with meaningful, purposeful tasks. Like physical therapy, occupational therapy sessions built on her ability to stand. Courtney used a stable, adjustable platform called a Barihab that helped her safely exercises that strengthened her core. It helped her on several fronts like progressing from sitting to standing, moving in bed and balancing. Courtney enjoyed being able to stand with the device. It enabled her to stretch her legs out and bear weight without her knees buckling plus she was able to stand for increasingly longer periods of time, according to her therapist.

Occupational therapy also focused on Courtney’s upper body strength with hand weights. The exercises increased Courtney’s ability to transfer between surfaces helping her move from her wheelchair to bed, for instance. She also learned to use a slide board, making the above movement easier. Meantime, Courtney was regularly practicing self-care activities with techniques her team taught her, such as how to get dressed in bed. Her independence was growing and soon her care team helped establish a schedule for using the bathroom improving her continence over time.

While Courtney noticed her advancements, she said “It was so nice to hear from therapists about the progress I was making. When my doctor was happy with the increased strength in my quads, it really made me feel hopeful that there was light at the end of the tunnel.”

Courtney described the support she received from her family and friends both before and during her rehabilitation experience as “incredible,” saying “My husband Mark has been with me every single day since my surgery and has done things that I have never thought he would have to do for me,” Courtney stated. “It has changed our relationship for the better. You don’t know how much you appreciate someone until something like this happens.” Mark also participated in daily family training so that he can help Courtney when she returns home. Courtney’s parents stepped in to help care for her daughter, Kelsey, serving as her main caregivers while she was hospitalized. Friends helped by picking up Kelsey from school and helping to install a ramp at the family home so Courtney can get inside more easily.

During her 22-day stay at Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Avon, Courtney progressed from needing assistance to sit upright to being able to move in and out of bed by herself with a care team member nearby if help was needed. While she still needed help sitting upright, she could push her own wheelchair, use the bathroom, shower, and dress independently. Courtney plans to build on the progress she made in inpatient rehab with outpatient therapy.

Courtney said she received exceptional care at Avon and has high praise for her care team. “The team is so supportive, careful, hopeful, positive and non-judgmental. They genuinely care about your success. They are motivators on days when you’re sad. They’ve prepared me to function in the real world.”

Courtney noted she has been profoundly changed by her experience. “When I stand and walk again, I am going to appreciate life so much more. You don’t realize how privileged you are until you can’t do it. When I reach that point again, I’m never going to take that gift that I’ve been given for granted. I will always appreciate it now. This has opened my eyes and made me so grateful!”