Two days following a spinal cord injury, a patient asks continually about the extent of impairment that will result from the injury. The best response by the nurse is,
a. you will have more normal function when spinal shock resolves and the reflex arc returns
b. the extent of your injury cannot be determined until the secondary injury to the cord is resolved
c. when your condition is more stable, an MRI will be done that can reveal the extent of the cord damage
d. because long-term rehabilitation can affect the return of tunction, it will be years before we can tell when the complete effect will be