mom section Living Well Family & Relationships Education & Activities Parenting eHow Health Family Health General Family Health What Are the Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury? Nicki Howell Nicki Howell started her professional writing career in 2002, specializing in areas such as health, fitness and personal finance. She has been published at health care websites, such as HealthTree, and is a ghostwriter for a variety of small health care organizations. She earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Portland State University. According to the Mayo Clinic, spinal cord injuries involve much of the body. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord, and controls the majority of body functions. The spinal cord runs from the brain to the waist, and carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The majority of spinal cord injuries are caused by car accidents, falls or sport injuries. The prognosis of recovery depends on the extent of the damage. But many treatments are available to minimize spinal cord damage and work toward gaining back body functions. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, in clinical trials, people who were given the medication Methylprednisolone … Continue reading →

A new study has given some spinal injured patients something to be extremely thankful for this Thanksgiving. A new treatment improved their walking ability by more than 250%. The results were published online on November 27 in online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology by researchers at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Study author Randy D. Trumbower, PT, PhD explained, About 59% of all spinal injuries are incomplete, leaving pathways that could allow the spinal cord to change in a way that allows people to walk again. Unfortunately, usually a person affected by this type of spinal injury seldom recovers the ability to walk normally. Our research proposes a promising new way for the spinal cord to make the connections needed to walk better. The study group comprised 19 individuals who had suffered spinal cord injuries located between levels C2 and T12 (the area from the neck to the lower chest). The subjects had no shortening of their joints and were able to move their ankles, knees, and hips to some degree. All were able to walk … Continue reading →