Can paralysis caused by spinal cord injury be reversed?
Everyone wants to know if there is a “cure” for spinal cord injury (SCI). There continues to be significant progress made toward this goal, but, despite any claim that there is a cure, there is currently no cure or proven way to ...
What is the spine?
The spine (also known as the “backbone”) is the connected column of bones running from your head to your lower back. A single bone is called a “vertebra” (pronounced VER-teh-brah), and multiple bones are called “vertebrae” (pronounced VER-teh-bray). The figure shows the spine and vertebrae.
The figure also ...
Depression is common and can affect anyone. Depression is even more common in the spinal cord injury (SCI) population. Estimated rates of depression among people with SCI range from 11% to 37%.
What is a brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to damage to the brain caused by an external physical force such as a car accident, a gunshot wound to the head, or a fall. A TBI is not caused by something internal such as a stroke or tumor, and does ...
Learn about vegetative and minimally conscious states after severe traumatic brain injury. This factsheet explains changes in consciousness after severe TBI.
What do I need to know?
Ninety-five percent of all pressure sores are preventable!
After spinal cord injury, your skin requires daily care and a lot of attention.
You will need to spend time daily cleaning the skin, keeping it dry (from incontinence or perspiration), checking the skin for problems or changes, moving ...
A burn injury causes stress to your body. Your heart and lungs may not work as well as before. Your muscles and bones may not be as strong. Remember that muscles get weak or smaller when they are not used—being on bed rest probably caused you to lose some muscle. ...
Seizures are one health problem that can occur after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although most people with a TBI will never have a seizure, 1 out of 10 people who were hospitalized after a TBI will have seizures. It’s good to know what a seizure is and what to ...
Introduction
The wheelchair is a complex piece of equipment that has been extensively engineered and studied. Most individuals with SCI become wheelchair experts because doing so increases their chances of getting a wheelchair that truly meets their needs. However, power wheelchairs are technologically advanced and have many components, so it is ...
How can I tell if I have a pressure sore?
First signs. One of the first signs of a possible skin sore is a reddened, discolored or darkened area (an African American’s skin may look purple, bluish or shiny). It may feel hard and warm to the touch.
A pressure sore has ...
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MSKTC Radio · Understanding a Burn Injury
PHASE I: Burn Evaluation & Early Care
What Is a Burn Injury?
A burn injury is damage to the layers of skin caused by exposure to the one of the ...
Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD), sometimes referred to as Autonomic Hyperreflexia, is a potentially life-threatening medical condition that many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience when there is a pain or discomfort below their level of injury, even if the pain or discomfort cannot be felt.
What is acute inpatient rehabilitation?
Acute inpatient rehabilitation (rehab) is an intensive form of medical rehabilitation in which patients receive three or more hours per day of core therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy) overseen by a physician specialized in rehabilitation with around the clock nursing care. This team ...
Possible stages of recovery
In the first few weeks after a moderate to severe brain injury, swelling, bleeding or changes in brain chemistry often affect the function of healthy brain tissue. The injured person's eyes may remain closed, and the person may not show signs of awareness. As swelling decreases and ...
The pressure relief technique you use will depend on your level of injury, the type of wheelchair you use and how much movement and strength you have in your arms and shoulders.
Tilting or reclining
If you are unable to perform independent pressure reliefs, you can use a power tilt wheelchair for ...
Introduction
Alcohol and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are closely related. Up to 50% of adults with TBI were drinking more alcohol than is recommended before they were injured. People who were over age 60 when they had their TBI were less likely to drink too much before their injury, but those ...
What you need to know
Your vision is important for many aspects of life.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause problems with your vision.
Treatment can either fix the problem completely, improve your vision, or help you better manage the problem.
What is vision and why is it important?
We often think about vision as ...
Difficulty walking is very common following a spinal cord injury (SCI). People with SCI may have gait training included in their therapy plans. Gait training is practicing walking with assistive devices, braces and other types of support as needed.
Introduction
The wheelchair is a complex piece of equipment that has been extensively engineered and studied. Most individuals with SCI become wheelchair experts because doing so increases their chances of getting a wheelchair that truly meets their needs. However, there are numerous options when considering a manual wheelchair, so it is ...
People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) often have problems with balance. About half of people with TBI have dizziness and loss of balance at some point in their recovery. When you are dizzy, you may have vertigo (the feeling that you or your surroundings are moving) and feel unsteady. You ...