Questions and Answers

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an insult to the spinal cord resulting in a change, either temporary or permanent, in the cord’s normal motor, sensory, or autonomic function. Patients with SCI usually have permanent and often devastating neurologic deficits and disabilities. The most important aspect of clinical care for the SCI patient is preventing complications […] Read More

Medical costs for a spinal cord injury can include, but are not limited to: Surgery; Trauma care or emergency services; Rehabilitation; Long-term care such as in-home nurses; Medical equipment like wheelchairs; Prescription medications; Pain management; Therapy; Other hidden expenses such as travel costs to and from the hospital, parking fees, food while traveling, or therapy […] Read More

A spinal cord injury can have adverse effects on a variety of functions throughout the body: Bladder/bowel control: the brain may not be able to communicate with the bladder or bowels following a spinal cord injury, and changes in control may require new techniques to empty each respectively to avoid infection. Skin sensation: without proper […] Read More

Car crashes are the leading causes of spinal cord injury in the U.S. and account for 35 percent of new spinal cord injuries each year. In medical circles, it is considered prudent to assume a car crash victim who experienced extreme trauma to his or her head is likely to have a spinal cord injury […] Read More

Spinal cord injuries can be elusive. In some cases, the signs and symptoms will be apparent immediately following a car crash or accident. However, this isn’t always the case. Spinal cord injuries can be observed days or weeks after an incident. However, the period immediately following an incident is the most critical, and therefore, anyone […] Read More

Signs and symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include, but are not limited to: Severe back pain or pressure on the spine, neck, head, or back; Loss of strength or coordination; Paralysis in any part of the body; Numbness or tinging in fingers, toes, hands, or feet; Loss of bladder or bowel control; Difficulty […] Read More

Unfortunately, spinal cord injuries don’t discriminate—nearly anyone can become a victim. There are, however, some risk factors that put individuals at greater risk or disadvantage. Men, for example, account for 80 percent of all spinal cord injury victims; and victims are statistically between the ages of 16 and 35; however, people over 65-years-old are most […] Read More

Importantly, remember the 5 P-s of vascular claudication, as follows: Pulselessness; Paralysis; Paresthesia; Pallor; Pain. The absence of these symptoms, excluding pain and paresthesia, which are common to neurogenic and vascular claudication, should give the clinician confidence in the diagnosis of NC. If vascular claudication is suspected, referral to an internist for a workup is […] Read More

Patients with cervical stenosis usually present with cervical radiculopathy, with or without myelopathy. Typically, the condition involves the lower cervical spine. Patients frequently complain of radiating arm pain with numbness and paresthesia in the involved dermatomes. Occasionally, associated weakness occurs in the muscles supplied by that nerve root. If the stenosis is severe enough, or […] Read More

Stenosis of the cervical spine causes the clinical syndrome of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Initial symptoms may include subtle loss of hand dexterity and mild proximal lower extremity weakness, often without neck or arm pain. With progression, spastic quadriparesis begins. Pathologic reflexes such as the Hoffman sign, clonus, and/or the Babinski reflex may augment the […] Read More