Downtown Spine, Sports & Orthopedic Rehabilitation P.C.
65 Broadway / 47 Trinity Place, Suite 603 New York, NY 10006. (212) 422-1111
65 Broadway / 47 Trinity Place, Suite 603 New York, NY 10006. (212) 422-1111
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Spinal Cord Injuries And Rehabilitation
.
Call now for your consultation:
(212) 422-1111
Downtown Spine, Sports & Orthopedic Rehabilitation P.C.
65 Broadway / 47 Trinity Place, Suite 603
(Between Wall Street & Exchange Place)
New York, NY 10006
Fill out the New Patient Form
(212) 422-1111
Downtown Spine, Sports & Orthopedic Rehabilitation P.C.
65 Broadway / 47 Trinity Place, Suite 603
(Between Wall Street & Exchange Place)
New York, NY 10006
Fill out the New Patient Form
A spinal cord injury can be defined as damage that is caused to the spinal cord, by cause of infection, compression from a tumor, loss of regular blood supply and trauma. The spinal cord is probably the body part that is most susceptible to injury; furthermore, in comparison to other body parts, the spinal cord is incapable of repairing itself when it becomes damaged. As such, spinal cord injury rehabilitation is needed to help the patient recover.
In order to start spinal cord rehabilitation, you need to ensure that the patient’s heart is still beating, and that he or she is still breathing. Loss of breathing may result is the injury to the spinal cord is in the patient’s upper neck. If this is the case, the patient may need to use both a ventilator and a breathing tube.
The second thing that you need to know about spinal cord injury rehabilitation is that the patient needs to be kept immobile. Immobilization needs to start taking place before the patient is taken to the hospital, and once there is a realization that the patient is injured. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) will put the patient on a backboard or put him or her in a cervical collar, in order to help with immobilization. If there is in fact a spinal cord injury, then moving the spine will result in further damage.
Once the patient is taken to the rehabilitation center or the hospital, he or she will most likely be started on a very high dosage of steroids. This is to help reduce the amount of swelling and inflammation that the damage to the spinal cord has caused. There are a number of risks that are associated with spinal cord patients taking steroids; therefore, a patient’s doctor will determine if steroid use is suitable for the patient’s spinal cord injury rehabilitation. However, it is important to note that steroid use is only effective if it has been started within eight hours of the patient getting injured.
Another aspect of spinal cord rehabilitation is that the patient will have an halo device placed around his or her head, or be placed in a traction in order to help stabilize the spine and prevent additional damage to this sensitive body part. Once the patient’s spinal cord has been stabilized, depending on the severity of his or her injury, he or she will be prepped for surgery. Surgery either helps to alleviate any pressure to the spinal cord, or further stabilize the spinal cord.
After the surgery is completed, the patient will need to undergo more spinal cord injury rehabilitation, which generally consists of the use of assistive devices and occupational and physical therapy.
In order to start spinal cord rehabilitation, you need to ensure that the patient’s heart is still beating, and that he or she is still breathing. Loss of breathing may result is the injury to the spinal cord is in the patient’s upper neck. If this is the case, the patient may need to use both a ventilator and a breathing tube.
The second thing that you need to know about spinal cord injury rehabilitation is that the patient needs to be kept immobile. Immobilization needs to start taking place before the patient is taken to the hospital, and once there is a realization that the patient is injured. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) will put the patient on a backboard or put him or her in a cervical collar, in order to help with immobilization. If there is in fact a spinal cord injury, then moving the spine will result in further damage.
Once the patient is taken to the rehabilitation center or the hospital, he or she will most likely be started on a very high dosage of steroids. This is to help reduce the amount of swelling and inflammation that the damage to the spinal cord has caused. There are a number of risks that are associated with spinal cord patients taking steroids; therefore, a patient’s doctor will determine if steroid use is suitable for the patient’s spinal cord injury rehabilitation. However, it is important to note that steroid use is only effective if it has been started within eight hours of the patient getting injured.
Another aspect of spinal cord rehabilitation is that the patient will have an halo device placed around his or her head, or be placed in a traction in order to help stabilize the spine and prevent additional damage to this sensitive body part. Once the patient’s spinal cord has been stabilized, depending on the severity of his or her injury, he or she will be prepped for surgery. Surgery either helps to alleviate any pressure to the spinal cord, or further stabilize the spinal cord.
After the surgery is completed, the patient will need to undergo more spinal cord injury rehabilitation, which generally consists of the use of assistive devices and occupational and physical therapy.