Unfortunately there’s no way to reverse damage to the spinal cord; treatment for a spinal cord injury focuses on preventing further damage and empowering the injured person to have an active and productive life.
Emergency & Hospital Care
Treatment for a spinal cord injury often begins at the scene of the accident; paramedics will act to stabilize the injured person’s heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and other vital stats. To prevent further injury, the person’s head and neck may ...
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Health and Wellness
Diagnosing Spinal Cord Injury
Diagnosing a spinal cord injury begins during emergency treatment and usually requires subsequent neurological exams; X-rays, CT scans, and/or MRIs may be administered to determine the level and completeness of the injury. The level of injury refers to the location along the spinal cord where the injury occurred and indicates which parts of the body may be affected. The completeness of the injury refers to the extent of damage to the spinal cord and indicates the degree of paralysis (full or...
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Effects of a Spinal Cord Injury
Once the spinal cord has been injured, the damaged nerves can no longer send messages between the brain and the body. The effects of SCI depend on the level of injury as well as the extent of damage to the nerve fibers. Generally, the body functions located above the level of injury will continue to work, while the body functions below the point of injury will be impaired; this means, the closer to the head the injury occurs, the more dysfunction a person is likely to experience.
Cervical Injur...
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Types of Spinal Cord Injury
There are two types of spinal cord injuries: complete spinal cord injuries refer to a total loss of function below the level of the injury, while incomplete spinal cord injuries are those that result in a partial loss of function.
Complete Spinal Cord Injury
A complete spinal cord injury means that there is no movement or sensation below the level of the injury. In a complete injury, both sides of the body are equally affected; the result is either complete paraplegia, total paralysis in t...
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Dementia and Aging
Dementia is the decline in mental capacity that effects the ability of a healthy individual in regards to activities of daily living and social relationships. Some cognitive decline in aging is normal, however Dementia is not a part of normal aging. There are multiple forms of dementia all with their own course of onset and decline. Each individual’s experience is unique to them and their loved ones.
Forms of Dementia
Dementia is the umbrella name for memory loss and mental impairment that...
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Tips for Successful Aging
As we age moderate declines in overall functioning is normal. An individual naturally compensates for these declines. Nonetheless there are a few steps to stay proactive concerning prevention.
Stay on top of all medications
Prescription drugs, over the counter medicine, vitamins, and herbal remedies should all be kept track of (dosages & frequency)
Keep an up to date list. Make copies and bring them with you to all doctors appointments, pharmacists, and any other health care pro...
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Dementia’s Impact on the Caregiver
Dementia like many other diseases affects not only the individual but also their family. Family members quite often become the primary caregivers as the expense for outside support is extremely costly.Primary caregivers assist the individual with activities of daily living (ADLs) and supervise support care through the responsibility of managing medical needs and additional supportive staff. These responsibilities are a cumbersome burden that often leads to physical and emotional disturbances...
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Live Tobacco Free
Although tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of death in the United States, only about 30 percent of colleges have tobacco-free policies in place. (more…)
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