Articles Tagged: Mobility
After a spinal cord injury, three primary areas of nutritional concern are: regulation of bowel habits, skin care, and weight management. Dietary habits affect how these problems are prevented and managed.
Bowel management is an everyday concern for those with a spinal cord injury. The time required for food to move through the gut is slower after a spinal cord injury. If the bowel is not emptied on a regular basis, hard stools, and impaction may occur. Sometimes diarrhea occurs with impaction. This type of diarrhea may be incorrectly treated with an anti-diarrheal medication. Continue Reading »
When spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs, one of the most difficult issues to deal with is that there is no “cure” at the present time. One would think that with the explosion in scientific knowledge we hear of every day someone would find a cure for people with SCI. If we can achieve the impossible in other areas like transplanting entire organs and organ systems from one person to another and isolating human genes, why can’t we figure out why the spinal cord does not repair itself and then do something to correct this biological problem? Compared to a lot of the scientific puzzles that have been solved, it shouldn’t be all that difficult. Continue Reading »
Craig Hospital in Englewood may become the first place in the world to transplant human stem cells into paralyzed patients in hopes of helping them regain mobility. The hospital is in a race with the University of Miami Hospital to pioneer the procedure, and could begin human trials as early as 2004.
Could this mean movie star Christopher Reeve and thousands of others now in wheelchairs will walk again some day? Continue Reading »
Spinal cord injury (SCI) typically results in sensory paralysis, or a loss of feeling in areas using nerves that connect to the spinal cord below the level of injury. A person with complete paralysis can’t tell if these areas are being tickled with a feather, stuck with a pin, or burned with a match. The lack of pain sensation presents a constant danger; persons with SCI must to learn to compensate with other senses to avoid damaging themselves.
Unfortunately, paralysis does not guarantee freedom from pain. In fact, a number of people with SCI experience chronic pain in areas that otherwise have no sensation. Continue Reading »
Pressure ulcers are a common, debilitating, and costly complication of SCI, often requiring long periods of immobility, hospitalization, and/or surgery. Patients with SCI are therefore carefully instructed to perform regular, frequent pressure releases in order to maintain blood flow to the skin and avoid Skin Breakdown.
Yet many individuals with SCI get pressure ulcers despite diligent Pressure Release behavior, and others get pressure ulcers that don’t heal for years, said Jennifer James, MD, clinical assistant professor at the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Continue Reading »
Episode 28: Mercedes/Handicap Car
This time, Jesse wanted to make the ultimate handicap-accessible vehicle. And what Jesse wants, Jesse gets.
Get details on the Mercedes/Handicap Car below. Then, for more behind-the-scenes scoop, see our interview with race-car driver Ray Paprota, the first Paraplegic driver to compete in a NASCAR touring series. Continue Reading »
Drug Treatments For New Injuries
NOTE: It is important to realize these drugs are not a cure for chronic (long-term) spinal cord injuries. It is heart-ening to note, however, that treatments finally are available to lessen the severity of some acute injuries.
Research has shown that all damage in SCI does not occur instantaneously. Mechanical disruption of nerves and nerve fibers occurs at the time of injury. Within 30 minutes, hemorrhaging is observed in the damaged area of the spinal cord and this may expand over the next few hours. Continue Reading »
Bladder Dysfunction
The bladder muscle, “detruser” and external sphincter are similarly affected. Early drainage occurs with indwelling (“foley”) Catheter. When urine volumes are equal to or less than 400 cc per 4 hr., the patient is converted to an Intermittent Catheterization program (ICP). Control fluid intake is closely monitored, especially at night (due to remobilization of fluid from the legs). Early catheter removal reduces the risk of infection (UTI) and allows for better fluid regulation and restriction if necessary. Early ICP reduces Foley Catheter related complications (erosion, stones, recurrent infections, colonization, resistant organisms). Continue Reading »
Published: September 8, 2003 | Category:
Links EnabledOnline
An online magazine and community that offers to people with disabilities, their families and caregivers a place to connect and share experiences.
Mainstream
Small online commentary produced by, for and about people with disabilities. Covers news & current affairs, new products & technology, education, employm Continue Reading »
Published: September 8, 2003 | Category:
Links 1-800-Wheelchair
Large selection of home medical equipment that welcome Medicare, Medicaid and most major insurance. Provides products that allow a more independent life style, including; wheelchairs, bedroom & bathroom assistance products, walkers and accessories.
DS Medical
A leading provider of urological supplies. They carry over 55,000 products from te top manufacturers and accept assignment on Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurances. They provide free home delivery on all orders. Samples are available for a free trial. Continue Reading »
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