Spine. Conditions

Hemiparesis is a condition related to hemiplegia, which symptoms include a significant loss of strength and mobility on one side of the body—but without full paralysis. Some people with hemiplegia develop the condition after a bout of hemiparesis. Others may go from being hemiplegic to having hemiparesis after undergoing physical therapy. Read More

Hemiplegia is a form of paralysis that affects one side of the body, often one arm and leg, although the paralysis sometimes can be experienced in the torso as well. Most commonly associated with cerebral palsy, this weakness or lack of sensation that leads to paralysis indicates an issue with one side of the brain, […] Read More

The circumstances of spinal cord injuries (SCI) vary from person to person. Additionally, depending on whether the SCI is incomplete or complete also will play a crucial role in a person’s prognosis and whether they may walk again. Unfortunately, there is no cure for a completely severed spinal cord, and therefore is no guaranteed outcome. […] Read More

While spinal cord injuries can result from damage to any portion of the spinal cord or nerves at its base, these injuries typically are divided into three main areas: cervical spinal cord, thoracic spinal cord, lumbar spinal cord. The cervical spinal cord consists of a total of eight vertebrae, ranging from the top to bottom […] Read More

The most common causes of cervical vertebrae injury and spinal cord damage include a spinal fracture from diving accidents and sports, as well as medical complications. Other common causes include: ·       Tumors; ·       Trauma; ·       Birth defects; ·       Motor vehicle accidents; ·       Infections or diseases; ·       Slip and fall incidents. Read More

A compression of C3 and C4 means that the vertebrae or nerves in the midsection of the cervical spine, near the base of the neck, are compressed. Injuries that impact the nerves and tissue in this upper spinal region are the most severe because they cause the most damage to the body’s central nervous system. […] Read More

Although anyone can get a respiratory infection, particularly after an injury or other illness, SCI survivors are especially vulnerable. The unique risk factors SCI survivors face include: Decreased immunity after the injury. Drugs your providers give you, as well as your body’s natural immune response to the injury, may both reduce your ability to fight […] Read More

The primary risk to the respiratory system after SCI occurs when the injury impedes the ability to independently breathe, swallow, or cough. The higher the injury, the more likely it is that a patient will experience breathing difficulties that necessitate the use of artificial respirators. These breathing devices are themselves a risk factor for respiratory […] Read More

Injuries that occur between C1-C8 of the cervical spine can result in tetraplegia (commonly referred to as quadriplegia), or an injury that affects all of a person’s limbs to a certain extent. For example, a C3 or C6 spinal cord injury can result in a loss of function of both legs and arms, depending on […] Read More

There are two main categories of spinal cord injuries: Complete and Incomplete. Complete Spinal Cord Injuries Complete SCIs are the most serious of spinal cord injuries. They occur when the spinal cord is injured, eliminating the brain’s ability to send signals below the injury site. For an injury impacting the lumbar spinal cord, for example, […] Read More