Category Archives: Spinal Cord Injury Treatment

Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Now Possible at a Reliable Spinal Recovery CenterWhat Is a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)? Its one of the most serious traumatic injuries. Thats because an SCI causes damage to the: That causes the spinal cord and/or its nerve fibers to experience bruising and tears. After an SCI, every nerve above the level of the injury keeps working. However, the spinal cord nerves below the point of injury can no longer transmit messages between the brain and parts of the body. An SCI is classified according to its level and type. The level of injury for a person with SCI is the lowest point on the spinal cord below which there is a decrease or absence of feeling and/or movement. The higher the spinal cord injury is in the vertebral column (the closer it is to the brain), the more effect it has on how the body moves, and the harder the recovery will be. Heres how you can tell if you are in serious need ofspinal cord injury recovery: Even if you experienced a severing of the spinal cord, spinal cord injury recovery is possible at our center. We can help you regain: Experts agree that … Continue reading →

Injury to the spinal cord can be caused by acute (sudden) or chronic (developing) trauma as well as medical conditions. Frequent causes of chronic compression injuries are herniated disks and primary or secondary tumors. Compromised blood perfusion, the delivery of nutritive arterial blood to capillary bed, as in anterior spinal cord syndrome can also be severely detrimental to spinal cord function. However the most damaging Spinal Cord Injury is one of acute trauma resulting in permanent paralysis. Traumatic spinal cord injury have been classified into five categories by the American Spinal Injury Association and the International Spinal Cord Injury Classification System: Spinal cord injury where no motor or sensory function remains in the sacral segments S4-S5. Spinal cord injury sensory but not motor function remains below the neurological level and includes the sacral segments S4-S5. Typically a transient phase and if the person recovers any motor function below the neurological level, theyare considered motor incomplete and classified C or D. Spinal cord injury where motor function remains below the neurological level and more than half of key muscles below the neurological level have a muscle grade of less than 3, which indicates active movement with full range of motion against … Continue reading →

For more information, please visit our Integrated Spine Care site The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is due to a traumatic injury that can either result in a bruise (also called a contusion), a partial tear, or a complete tear (called a transection) in the spinal cord. About 250,000 to 400,000 individuals in the US have a spinal cord injury. About 60 percent of these cases are 30 years old or younger. The annual incidence of spinal cord injury in the U.S. is 40 cases per million, or 12,000 new cases each year. The number of people in the U.S. in 2008 living with a spinal cord injury is approximately 259,000, with a range of 229,000 to 306,000. SCI results in a decreased or absence of movement, sensation, and body organ function below the level of the injury. The most common sites of injury are the cervical and thoracic areas. SCI is a common cause of permanent disability and death in children and adults. The spine consists of 33 vertebrae, including the following: * By adulthood, the 5 sacral vertebrae fuse … Continue reading →

Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a member of the neurotrophic factor (neurotrophin, NTFS) family, which can prevent the death of nerve cells and has many features of typical neurotransmitter molecules. NGF plays an important role in the development and growth of nerve cells. NGF is synthesized and secreted by tissues (corneal epithelial, endothelial, and corneal stromal cells), and it can be up-taken by sympathetic or sensory nerve endings and then transported to be stored in neuronal cell bodies where it can promote the growth and differentiation of nerve cells. NGF can exert neurotrophic effects on injured nerves and promote neurogenesis (the process of generating neurons from stem cells) that is closely related to the development and functional maintenance and repair of the central nervous system. It is also capable of promoting the regeneration of injured neurons in the peripheral nervous system, improving the pathology of neurons and protecting the nerves against hypoxia (lack of oxygen)/ischemia (lack of blood supply). The rest is here: Stem Cell Treatment for Spinal Cord Injury ... … Continue reading →

The Acute Phase During the acute phase, it is very important that the person receive prompt medical care. The faster the person accesses treatment, the better his or her chances are at having the least amount of impairment possible. In most cases, like in the all too common suv rollover, the injured person will be sent to the closest hospital or center equipped to deal with spinal cord injuries. The first few days of the acute stage are accompanied by spinal shock, in which the persons reflexes dont work. During this stage, its very difficult to determine an exact prognosis, as some function beyond what is currently being seen may occur later. At this stage other complications from the accident or injury will also be present, such as brain injury, broken bones, or bruising. Once the acute phase is over and the person has been stabilized, he or she enters the rehabilitation stage of treatment. Treatment during this phase has the goal of returning as much function as possible to the person. Because all spinal cord injuries are different, a unique plan designed to help the person function and succeed in everyday life is designed. The plan often includes: In … Continue reading →

The C3, C4, and C5 vertebrae form the midsection of the cervical spine, near the base of the neck. Injuries to the nerves and tissue relating to the cervical regionare the most severe of all spinal cord injuries because the higher up in the spine an injury occurs, the more damage that is caused to the central nervous system. Depending on the how severe the damage to the spinal cord is, the injury may be noted as complete or incomplete. The C2 - C3 junction of the spinal column is important, as this is where flexion and extension occur (flexion is the movement of the chin toward the chest and extension is the backward movement of the head). Patients with spinal cord damage at the C3 level will have limited mobility in both their flexion and extension. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury corresponding toC3 vertebrae include: The portion of the spinal cord which relatesto the C4 vertebra directly affects the diaphragm. Patients with C4 spinal cord injuries typically need 24 hour-a-day support to breathe and maintain oxygen levels. Symptoms of a spinal cord injury corresponding toC4 vertebrae include: Damage to the spinal cord at the C5 vertebra affects the … Continue reading →

Spinal cord injury is term used for spectrum of insults to the spinal cord which results in either temporary or permanent loss of function of the affected area of the cord. Spinal cord works to relay motor and sensory signals to the peripheral organs. Therefore the function affected are sensation, proprioreception, activity of smooth and striated muscles. The profile of the injury and region affected would determine the functions affected. This motor and sensory loss pattern in fact guides the clinicians to reach at the diagnosis of the levels of injury. At any level, the injury to spinal cord could be complete[ a total loss of sensation and muscle function at and below the level of injury] incomplete [sparing of some functions distal to level of injury indicating the signal transmission] The prognosis of the spinal cord injury depends on the severity of the injury and may range from complete recovery to permanent quadriplegia [cervical injuries] and complete paraplegia in lower injuries. Physical trauma like motor vehicle injury, gunshots, falls, or sports injuries are most common causes of injury to spinal cord. But the cord injury can also occur due to non-traumatic causes like infection, insufficient blood flow, and tumors. … Continue reading →

Acupuncture Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body - most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. It is one of the most effective practices used in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture stimulates nerve fibers to transmit signals to the spinal cord and brain, activating the bodys central nervous system. The spinal cord and brain then release hormones responsible for making us feel less pain while improving overall health. Acupuncture may also: increase blood circulation and body temperature, affect white blood cell activity (responsible for our immune function), reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and regulate blood sugar levels. Aquatherapy Aquatic Physical Therapy is the practice of physical therapy in a specifically designed water pool with a therapist. The unique properties of the aquatic environment enhance interventions for patients with neurological or musculoskeletal conditions. Aquatic therapy includes a wide range of techniques allowing patients to improve their balance, muscle strength and body mechanics. Aquatic therapy works to enhance the rehabilitation process and support effectiveness of stem cell treatment. Epidural Stimulation Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure. The equipment required consists of … Continue reading →

April 9, 2018 - Quadriplegic Athlete Has Unfinished Business at Boston In June 2016, Matt Wetherbee was left paralyzed after going head first into a wall during a pick-up basketball game. Severely damaging his spinal cord, Wetherbee was transported to the hospital where he spent two months facing a number of complications, and ultimately relocating to a rehabilitation center. Since that time, Wetherbee has continued to Continue Reading Tommy Hilfiger is expanding its innovative disability-friendly clothing initiative by unveiling Tommy Adaptive, a new line that includes a variety of new and stylish pieces. In 2016, Tommy Hilfiger partnered with Runway of Dreams, a nonprofit founded by Mindy Scheier, a mother whose child has muscular dystrophy, to create a clothing line more inclusive to Continue Reading Google and a slew of startups are including accessibility information in apps to help people navigate the world if they use wheelchairs or have other disabilities. Occupational therapist turned disability rights activist Alanna Raffel has spent her career thinking about accessibility. So for her 30th birthday last year, she turned her passion into action. Raffel Continue Reading An inventor on the western slope is trying to help everyone ski, particularly people with spinal cord injuries. … Continue reading →

The Acute Phase During the acute phase, it is very important that the person receive prompt medical care. The faster the person accesses treatment, the better his or her chances are at having the least amount of impairment possible. In most cases, like in the all too common suv rollover, the injured person will be sent to the closest hospital or center equipped to deal with spinal cord injuries. The first few days of the acute stage are accompanied by spinal shock, in which the persons reflexes dont work. During this stage, its very difficult to determine an exact prognosis, as some function beyond what is currently being seen may occur later. At this stage other complications from the accident or injury will also be present, such as brain injury, broken bones, or bruising. Once the acute phase is over and the person has been stabilized, he or she enters the rehabilitation stage of treatment. Treatment during this phase has the goal of returning as much function as possible to the person. Because all spinal cord injuries are different, a unique plan designed to help the person function and succeed in everyday life is designed. The plan often includes: In … Continue reading →