e-Clinic

The higher the injury occurs on the spinal cord, the more neurological function is lost. What is a Spinal Cord Injury? A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to any part of the spinal cord or the fragile nerves at the end of the spinal canal. The "Message Highway": Think of the spinal cord as the central superhighway sending complex electrical messages between your brain and the rest of your body. An injury creates a structural roadblock. Complete Injury: All feeling (sensory) and all ability to control movement (motor function) are lost below the neurological level of the injury. Incomplete Injury: The cord is only partially compromised. Some motor or sensory function remains active below the affected area. 🚑 EMERGENCY: ACCIDENT PROTOCOL If you witness a severe accident and suspect someone has a back or neck injury: DO NOT MOVE THEM. Moving a person with a compromi...

What is a Herniated Disk? Often referred to as a slipped or ruptured disk, this incredibly common condition occurs when the soft, gelatinous center of a spinal disk pushes out through a tear or crack in its tougher, rubbery exterior casing. The "Jelly Donut" Analogy: Imagine a jelly donut. If you squish it too hard, the jelly leaks out. In your spine, this leaked "jelly" is highly inflammatory. It can severely irritate and compress nearby spinal nerves, causing radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg. The vast majority of herniated disks occur in the lower back (lumbar spine), but they can also frequently occur in the neck (cervical spine). Surprisingly, many people walk around with a mildly herniated disk and experience no symptoms at all until it presses on a nerve. Symptoms Symptoms vary wildly depending on exactly where the disk is situated and whether it is actively pressing on a nerve...