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Results for search "Spinal Problems".

Health News Results - 38

Insurance Coverage Could Impact Survival of Patients After Spinal Cord Injury

The care of people seriously harmed by spinal cord injury can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and a new analysis suggests that ability to pay influences how long a patient remains on life support.

In a study of more than 8,400 U.S. adults with severe spinal cord injury, "uninsured patients had greater odds of withdrawal of life-supporting treatment," compared to those who had priva...

Insights From a Fish Might Help People Battling Spinal Cord Injury

A fish might hold clues to healing spinal cord injuries in humans, researchers report.

The damaged nerve cells of zebrafish can survive a spinal cord injury, eventually restoring full movement in the fish.

That’s very unlike humans and most other mammals, in which damaged neurons always die, researchers said.

But the way the zebrafish neurons first survive and then heal ...

New Upright Scanner Tracks Brain Function While You Walk

A wearable brain scanner could improve research into Parkinson’s disease, dementia and other debilitating disorders, new research shows.

The brain scanner -- called the Ambulatory Motion-enabling PET (AMPET) -- fits on a person’s head much like a construction worker’s har...

Having Diabetes Raises Risk of Failure With Spinal Fusion Surgery

Diabetes can make lumbar spinal fusion surgery much more likely to fail, a new study says.

People with diabetes are nearly three times more likely to have their vertebrae fail to properly heal and fuse together, what surgeons call a non-union complication, according to results recently published in the journa...

Animal Studies Suggest New Treatment Target for Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injuries can cause the body to go haywire, with misfiring nerves causing dangerous "fight-or-flight"responses.

This makes typical and normally harmless problems like having a full bladder prompt life-threatening complications like heart attack, stroke and severe infections like

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 14, 2024
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  • Spinal Cord 'Wraparound' Device Could Help Treat Paralysis

    A tiny, flexible device that wraps around the spinal cord could be a breakthrough in the treatment of spinal injuries.

    The device, developed by a University of Cambridge team, can record 360-degree information and provide a complete picture of spinal cord activity, researchers report in the journal Science Advances.

    The device ...

    Spinal Cord Injury Damages Metabolism, and Scientists Now Know Why

    Patients with a spinal cord injury frequently develop diabetes and heart health problems, and researchers now think they know why.

    It appears that neuron activity following the injury causes belly fat to break down into compounds that leak and pool in the liver and other organs, a new animal study has discove...

    Brain's Cerebellum Could Help Direct Prosthetic Limbs

    Tapping the power of the small brain region called the cerebellum could improve patients' ability to move cutting-edge robotic limbs, a new study suggests.

    The cerebellum is an ancient structure located under the brain, just above where the spinal cord connects to the brain.

    This structure has largely been overlooked by prosthetics researchers in favor of the cerebral cortex, which ...

    Stem Cells From Patients' Fat Can Help Treat Spinal Cord Injuries

    Stem cells derived from a patient's own fat can safely help improve sensation and movement after a spinal cord injury, a new, small study finds.

    Patients treated with these stem cells experienced increased sensation from pinpricks and light touches, increased muscle strength and better sphincter control, results show.

    "In spinal cord injury, even a mild improvement can make a signif...

    Urinary Implant Helps Alert When Patients 'Gotta Go'

    It's hard for some folks who suffer illness-related urinary incontinence to judge whether they'll be able to hold it until they get home, or if they should rush to a bathroom now.

    There might soon be a new app for that.

    A newly developed soft, flexible, battery-free implant attaches to the b...

    New Prosthetic Hand Can Sense Objects' Temperature

    Fabrizio wasn't sure what to expect of his newly outfitted prosthetic hand, until he touched one of the researchers who'd given it to him.

    "When one of the researchers placed the sensor on his own body, I could feel the warmth of another person with my phantom hand,"said Fabrizio, a 57-year-old man from Pistoia, Italy. "It was a very strong emotion for me, it was like reactivating a conne...

    Spinal Cord Injury Triggers Muscle Wasting, Study Finds

    A spinal cord injury can trigger muscle wasting in patients, causing them to drop more weight and muscle mass than can be explained solely by their paralysis, a new study in mice warns.

    This muscle wasting is rapid and severe, and it appears to be linked to a hormone imbalance caused by the injury, researchers said.

    Specifically, it depends on whether a person's adrenal glands lose ...

    Spinal Cord Stimulation Eases Pain, Boosts Function for People With Prosthetic Legs

    People who've lost a leg due to injury or disease are often plagued by what's known as phantom limb pain -- discomfort arising in the area, despite the absence of the limb.

    Now, researchers report that people who wear a prosthetic leg after amputation may have that pain eased, as well as improved sensation in their new foot, using spinal cord stimulation.

    "We are using electrodes an...

    In Mice, Gene Therapy Helps Restore Movement After Spinal Cord Injury

    Gene therapy has restored mobility in mice with completely severed spinal cords, researchers report.

    The mice regained the ability to walk, with gait patterns resembling those of mice that resumed walking naturally after only partial cord injuries, the investigators found.

    This happened because the new gene therapy used techniques to not only repair spinal cord tissue, but also to d...

    Spinal Cord Injury Could Harm Immune System

    A severe spinal cord injury is traumatic enough, but new research now shows that trauma can trigger an immune deficiency that puts patients at risk for developing life-threatening infections.

    A new study from a team of international researchers sheds light on spinal cord injury-induced immune deficiency syndrome, which was initially discovered in experimental models.

    "Infections an...

    You've Suffered Whiplash: Know the Symptoms & Treatments

    Whiplash -- an often underestimated injury that can strike in the aftermath of a collision -- inflicts injury and pain on its unsuspecting victims.

    If you find yourself grappling with the relentless effects of whiplash, you're not alone. Numerous legal websites estimate that at least 3 million Americans per year sustain whiplash injuries.

    Here's what you should know about a whiplash...

    Getting Rid of Neck Pain: 6 Ways to Feel Better

    The phrase "pain in the neck" is a tongue-in-cheek way to describe annoying situations or people that test our patience, but for those who experience genuine neck pain, it's no laughing matter.

    Neck pain can be a debilitating condition that affects daily life and leaves sufferers longing for relief. This article will explore some practical strategies to alleviate neck pain and provide sel...

    The Most Common Back Surgeries, Explained

    Imagine a life where even the simplest movement becomes a painful endeavor.

    Back pain, a pervasive ailment affecting millions, can turn daily routines into exhausting and painful challenges. Back surgery emerges as a potential solution when conventional treatments fall short, offering hope for those trapped in chronic pain.

    What are the most common back surgery types, and how do the...

    Immune System Could Play Role in Spinal Cord Injury and Healing

    Age blunts the immune system's ability to respond to spinal cord injuries, new animal research indicates.

    But researchers working with mice also found that the membranes surrounding the spinal cord play a key role in the immune response to spinal cord injury, a discovery that might help people with these devastating injuries. They often leave patients with lifelong effects, includin...

    Hi-Tech Implant Helps Paralyzed Man Walk More Naturally

    A Dutch man with paralyzed legs can now stand and walk, thanks to a wireless brain-spine interface that responds to his thoughts by moving his legs.

    Gert-Jan Oskam, 40, suffered a spinal cord injury 11 years ago from a bike accident in China that left him unable to walk.

    Oskam now has a brain implant that picks up signals of movement that, in a healthy person, would travel down the ...

    Spinal Cord Injury Can Lead to Dangerously Low Blood Pressure, But New Implant Might Fix That

    Dangerously low blood pressure is considered an "invisible"consequence of paralysis, adding to the woes of as many as 9 out of 10 people with spinal cord injuries.

    Now, a new implant has been developed that treats the problem by delivering electrical stimulation to a select group of spinal neurons.

    The device, called a neuroprosthetic baroflex, stimulates the lower part of the spine...

    Spinal Cord Stimulation May Ease Diabetic Neuropathy

    Electrical stimulation from a spinal cord implant can provide long-lasting relief for people with diabetic neuropathy, updated clinical trial results show.

    "Two years after starting with using that stimulator device, they're still having the same quality of improvement as what we first saw,"said lead researcher

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 1, 2023
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  • Spinal Cord Stimulation Gives Big Boost to Arm Function After Stroke

    It's a brutal reality that confronts many recovering stroke patients: After six months or so of rehab, any arm and hand movement not yet restored is unlikely to return.

    But new cutting-edge research aims to use electrical stimulation to jumpstart stroke-interrupted communication betw...

    Mind-Controlled Wheelchair Brings New Freedom to People With Paralysis

    A severely paralyzed person no longer needs to go through brain surgery to try and steer a motorized wheelchair with their mind, researchers report.

    Through an electrode-studded cap placed on their head, several people with quadriplegia -- no function in all four limbs -- were able to produce brain waves that guided their wheelchair through a kind of hospital "obstacle course."

    The ...

    Targeting Key Cells in Spinal Cord Got Paralyzed Patients Walking Again

    In an advance in treating spinal cord injuries, researchers have pinpointed nerve cells that are key to allowing people with paralysis to walk again.

    The findings come, in part, from nine patients involved in an ongoing Swiss study that is seeking to restore movement to people with paralysis.

    All nine rapidly regained the ability to stand and walk with the help of implants that...

    Kids Getting Spinal Surgeries May Cut Back on Opioids

    Spinal surgery is painful, but fewer addictive opioid painkillers are needed now to help kids and teens manage it, a new study finds.

    A research team from Michigan Medicine found that scoliosis patients undergoing spinal fusion can be prescribed fewer opioids and still get adequate pain control after surgery.

    Could an Experimental Cancer Drug Help Treat Spinal Injury?

    A drug in development as a cancer therapy may also help the body regenerate damaged nerves after spinal injuries, new research suggests.

    Scientists at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom report that they used cell and animal models to show that the drug, dubbed

  • By Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 18, 2022
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  • Injected 'Hydrogel' May Be New Option Against Back Pain

    Like fixing a flat on the roadside, a new injectable hydrogel is showing promise as a remedy for worn-down spinal discs -- pumping them back up and relieving chronic back pain.

    The gel, with the brand name Hydrafil, is injected directly into worn discs using X-rays to guide the needle, said lead researcher Dr. Douglas Beall, chi...

    In Animal Studies, Gene Therapy Shows Promise for Spinal Cord Injury Pain

    An experimental gene therapy for spinal cord pain shows promise in mice, researchers say.

    About half of spinal cord injury patients have neuropathy, which is chronic or debilitating pain, tingling, numbness or muscle weakness caused by damaged or malfunctioning nerves.

    Treatment of neuropathy can be challenging. For...

    Novel Injection Repairs Severe Spinal Cord Injuries in Mice

    A brighter future could be in store for people with a spinal cord injury if new animal research pans out in humans.

    Mice that were paralyzed due to severe spinal cord damage regained the ability to walk within four weeks of receiving an experimental injectable therapy, say researchers led by Samuel Stupp of Northwestern University in Chicago.

    The research team plans to seek U.S...

    New Technology Restores Movement After Spinal Cord Paralysis

    A motorcycle crash left Michel Roccati with complete lower-body paralysis from a devastating spinal cord injury.

    That was in 2017.

    But now, the Italian native is walking again, courtesy of groundbreaking Swiss research that restores motor function within one day by means of carefully targeted electrical stimulation.

    "At the beginning, I was unable to move the muscles of the l...

    Gun-Related Spinal Cord Injury in Childhood Brings Hardship Later

    Spinal cord injuries in childhood are devastating no matter how they happen, but new research suggests that kids felled by gunshots are even worse off than those who suffer such an injury nonviolently.

    About 13% of spinal cord injuries in U.S. children are gun-related.

    Blood Pressure During Surgery May Be Crucial After Spinal Cord Injury

    Tight blood pressure control -- not too high and not too low -- during surgery for spinal cord injuries may improve patients' outcomes, a new study suggests.

    "Damage to neurons in spinal cord injuries leads to dysregulation of blood pressure, which in turn limits the supply of blood and oxygen to stressed spinal cord tissue, exacerbating spinal neuron death," said co-lead author Abel Torr...

    FDA OKs Virtual Reality System to Ease Back Pain

    A 3-D virtual reality system to treat back pain was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday.

    The EaseVRx system is a prescription device for at-home use that combines cognitive behavioral therapy and other behavioral methods to treat patients 18 and older with chronic lower back pain.

    "Millions of adults in the United States are living with chronic lower back pa...

    Mouse Study Points to Possible Breakthrough Against Spinal Cord Injury

    Severe spinal cord injuries are incurable today in humans, but a new injectable therapy that restored motion in laboratory mice could pave the way for healing paralyzed people.

    The therapy -- liquid nanofibers that gel around the damaged spinal cord like a soothing blanket -- produces chemical signals that promote healing and reduce scarring, researchers report.

    The treatment p...

    One Big Factor for Survival After Spinal Cord Injury: Resilience

    Survivors of spinal cord injuries who develop resilience are able to adapt and thrive despite the challenges, according to a researcher who himself is a resilient survivor.

    "For someone with a cord injury, your margin for surviving even small mistakes when it comes to your health is really thin," said James Krause, professor and associate dean for research in the Medical University of Sou...

    Could Electrode 'Pulses' Cut Back, Leg Pain Without Drugs?

    A new approach to spinal cord stimulation may drastically reduce chronic back pain, a small pilot study suggests.

    The study, of 20 patients with stubborn low back pain, tested the effects of implanting electrodes near the spinal cord to stimulate it with "ultra-low" frequency electrical pulses.

    After two weeks, 90% of the patients were reporting at least an 80% reduction in their pa...

    One Activity Causes 4 Out of 5 Sports-Linked Spinal Injuries

    Football and other contact sports get a lot of attention for their injury hazards. But for most adults, bike riding is the biggest back-breaker, a new study suggests.

    Of more than 12,000 sports-related spinal injuries among U.S. adults, researchers found that a full 81% were due to bicycling mishaps. The injuries mostly included vertebral fractures, often in the neck but also in the middl...