Talk:Spinal cord injury
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Neurology. Please visit the project page for details or ask questions at the talk page. |
| B | This page has been rated as B-Class on the quality assessment scale |
| Top | This article has been rated as Top-importance on the importance assessment scale |
 |
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Medicine. Please visit the project page for details or ask questions at the doctor's mess. |
| B | This page has been rated as B-Class on the quality assessment scale |
| High | This article has been rated as High-importance on the importance assessment scale |
Contents |
[edit] To
To do: (meant for me, but if somebody gets really driven, I won't complain!)
- Add references for statistics and try to make same internationalized
- Prognoses, treatments (maybe a thing about stem cells?
ClockworkTroll 05:41, 10 Oct 2004 (UTC)
[edit] Comments by another user
www.spinalcord.uab.edu says that the population of USA SCI is ~250,000. Another effect of SCI is shortened lifespan.
[edit] Lots of useful information missing
--Cervical spinal cord injuries from motor vehicle crashes is down dramatically in the last fifteen years, owing to the broader enforcement of seatbelt/shoulder harness usage enforcement and widespread availability of airbag technology.
--The vast majority of spinal cord injury survivors are placed in some form of rehabilitation hospital after "medical stability" is reached and some form of paralysis remains to be managed.
--The substantial alteration of defecation, urination, and erectile functions is not mentioned. These are MAJOR matters in the life of a SCI person. (Many SCI persons have a neurogenic bladder, that is, the urinary bladder sphincter is shut permanently and and intermittent cateterization program must be performed about four times per day to remove urinary waste.) Defecation requires an analogous intervention on a regular basis. Loss of erectile function is often permanent and ejaculatory function is likely to be permanently absent as well. Autonomic erections are sometimes possible, and may allow for sexual function, albeit with dramatically reduced sensation. (These erections are neurologically identical to erections that all mammals experience with a full urinary bladder--that is, it occurs without sexual arousal. Normal mental sexual arousal is disconnected from normal erections by the SCI.)
--Sensory loss is a major problem in that most SCI persons spend an increased percentage of their lives in a seated position. The reduction of sensation in their legs and buttocks increases the likelihood of ischemic skin injury, that is, blood supply is compromised to the skin and surface muscles by sitting too long--pinching the blood vessels--thus denying nutrition and waste removal from the tissues. (These are known as bedsores when developed to a more advanced stage.) A person without SCI has the sensations and "weight shifts" to remove pressure. SCI persons must be constantly vigilant to remember to do weight shifts and to perform visual inspections to avoid skin breakdown.
Homebuilding 207.178.98.102 (talk) 03:46, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Scientists should weigh in with discussion of potential therapies
A major problem with commenting on recent high-profile research is many scientists are constrained in what they can say, as criticism can come back to bite you. Most publications and grants are peer-reviewed; speaking ones mind about the quality of work of other scientists might threaten ones own career.
Wikipedia allows anonymous posts, and could allow for frank discussion. Moderation, to avoid slander, is obviously important.
Who'd like to start!?
[edit] I will- you hit the nail on the head
Buyer beware re: experimental treatments recently hyped in the media - many of us in the business are indeed reluctant to publicly speak our minds, as suggested above - privately we say "it's b.s.!!" and then, when interviewed, use terms like "premature" or "questionable" to describe our opinions. Anecdotal reports sensationalizing "improved sensation" and "sweating" without any associated visible change in movement (or wiggling a toe, and nothing else), and/or "standing for the first time" with braces are particularly suspect. Remember, those who've invested in surgery want to believe they got something for their trouble; and the media loves miracle comeback stories. Do your homework well before having the fundraiser.
[edit] Exercise
Exercise is proving to be a very effective interim therapy. Many people who were told that they would be in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives are now walking because of intensive exercise programs. Exercise is obviously not the cure for everyone but for many it can mean the difference between independence and dependence. TheSnowman 21:20, 12 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Q: Can spinal cord injury cause itching?
Is itching a normal effect of spinal cord injury? The article didn't seem to have any information about it, but it's been my experience. -- Creidieki 4 July 2005 18:31 (UTC)
Spurious sensations of itching, soreness and heat all seem to be common.
In my experience, altered sensations are VERY common. Persons with complete injury, that is no nerve conduction, at all, have the least sensations, of course. Weird sensations are most common with those who have some muscle function return. As with any pain or unusual sensation, movement and exercise are likely to "distract" and provide substitute sensations.
We really need to have a PM&R (physical medicine and rehabiliation) doctor fill in a lot of missing details, here.
Homebuilding 207.178.98.102 (talk) 03:54, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
[edit] How to...
O.k. not that I'm going to try this or do it but would it be possible to break someones spine from the guillitine choke hold position like in the show prison break I only wanted to know if it is possible?
76.118.107.105 (talk) 01:57, 30 January 2008 (UTC)
[edit] References
Where the hell are all the references?!? The bottom of the page has no citations whatsever, and any references within the body of the text are dead links that go nowhere. Has someone made an executive decision to make this article different from all other wiki articles?? I may have to tag this article as needing references... k1-UK-Global (talk) 11:42, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
