Picking Our Brain with Shepherd Center

A decade's worth of Shepherd Center statistics shows diving has historically been the fourth leading cause of paralyzing spinal cord injury among patients treated at the rehabilitation hospital.

These injuries are also among the most preventable.

Now, thanks to the efforts of Shepherd Center physician Herndon Murray, M.D., and the hospital's injury prevention program, Shepherd Center has seen a dramatic reduction in the past 18 months in spinal cord injuries caused by diving.

Diving is simply not worth the risk, Dr. Murray says. The only safe dive is the one you don't take. Listen as Dr. Murray explains the injury prevention program and why diving is such a dangerous activity.

In the United States, more than 795,000 strokes occur each year.

Stroke can happen to anyone at any age.

In fact, research shows strokes are on the rise among younger people.

So, it's important to know the risk factors and work to prevent those that can be managed, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

If you or a loved one experiences a stroke, early and intensive rehabilitation is key to achieving the best outcomes.

That is why Shepherd Center provides a full continuum of stroke services – from inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient care.

Ford Vox, M.D., is here to explain Shepherd Center's goal - to give patients their best chance for returning to what they love to do.

Tendon transfer procedures have been done for decades and applied in spinal cord injury (SCI) since the 1950s – though Shepherd Center is one of only a handful of facilities that offer the procedure for people with SCI.

In the past several decades, techniques and protocols have been greatly improved through research. In fact, Shepherd Center's Upper Extremity Clinic has conducted some of this research and presented it at international meetings and published it in journals and books.

Upper-extremity surgical procedures can improve the quality of life in people with spinal cord injury - specifically tetraplegia..

Among the options are tendon transfer surgery, which can restore function in hands, wrists and arms for people with tetraplegia.

Allan Peljovich, M.D.,MPH, is here to discuss upper-extremity surgical procedures.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a relatively new treatment that can relieve pain by promoting healing of musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine, and muscle and tendon injuries, among others. PRP is an emerging treatment in a new realm of medicine called “regenerative medicine.” Listen as J. Tobias Musser, M.D., joins the show to discuss this new therapy and how it can help those suffering from the pain of an injury and actually help to heal the injury as well.

People are sexual beings by nature.

Sexuality is not just about the physical act of sexual intercourse, but also includes emotional, intellectual, social aspects and other forms of sexual expression.

Spinal cord injury may alter certain physical and emotional aspects, but in spite of this there are still many ways that a person can express their sexuality.

Listen in as Minna Hong discusses your sexual options after a spinal cord injury.

Injury prevention is part of the stated mission at Shepherd Center.

Efforts are focused on preventing injuries related to distracted driving, falls and diving.

Listen in as Emma Harrington, MSPS, talks about Shepherd Center's devotion to the prevention of injuries.

Recovery from a spinal cord injury is unpredictable and can be frustrating.

Those who provide care for a loved one with a brain injury can gain insight and encouragement from these tips from a longtime rehabilitation case manager.

Listen in as Bridget Metzger, CCM, discusses how you can help a survivor of a spinal cord injury.

When a person first sustains a spinal cord or brain injury, they are faced with many issues about how they will manage their lifestyle and daily schedule.

An important part of the solution is recreation therapy, which gives you leisure counseling and skills to increase their overall wellness of in the emotional, spiritual, physical, intellectual, vocational and social aspects of life.

Listen in as Kelly Edens discusses all the options available at Shepherd Center for a spinal cord or brain injury survivor.

Recovery from brain injury is unpredictable and can be frustrating.

Those who provide care for a loved one with a brain injury can gain insight and encouragement from these tips from a longtime director of brain injury services.

Listen in as Susan Johnson, M.A., discusses the care you can provide for your survivor of a brain injury.

“Ow! I hurt my back!” I imagine you have said this, out loud or to yourself, at some point in your life.

Most low back injuries involve lifting, bending or twisting in the wrong way.

There are many different little back muscles, all connected by tendons to the bones in your spine.

The medical staff at Shepherd Pain Institute ventures beyond narcotics to treat pain. Some examples:

   •Nerve blocks – injections of medication into a specific area of the body. These are used to both diagnose and treat pain.
   •Neuromodulation – implanted electrodes, or pacemaker-like devices, that stimulate the spinal cord. 
   •Biofeedback – using thoughts to control the body and relax certain muscles. This is both a treatment option and a coping mechanism.
   •Manual (osteopathic) therapy – manual manipulations to bones that can sometimes relieve pain.

Listen in as Erik Shaw, D.O., discusses lower back pain and how Shepherd Pain Institute can help ease your pain.