[TMIC] March Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the March babies!!! Please send any additions or corrections to tmic-list@eskimo.com. 3-3 Marsha Scholes ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 03.05.42. Bettie Imus ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3-7-51 Sue Mattis ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3-15-1952 Sandra Melville ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3-17-50 Joy S. ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3/24/99 Rachel ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3/30/52 Gary ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) 3-31-39 Jan H ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
[TMIC] SCI Prevention is Crucial to Decreasing the Impact on Individuals and Society
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/518420/ Source: American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Released: Wed 01-Mar-2006, 12:35 ET SCI Prevention is Crucial to Decreasing the Impact on Individuals and SocietyLibraries Medical News Keywords SPINE CERVICAL LUMBAR SPINAL CORD INJURY PARALYSIS SCI PREVENTION SAFETY NEUROLOGICAL PARAPLEGIA TETRAPLEGIA STATISTICS Contact Information Available for logged-in reporters only Description According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), an estimated 250,000 to 450,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The AANS offers SCI prevention tips to help address this public health crisis. Newswise According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), an estimated 250,000 to 450,000 people in the United States are living with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Every year, an estimated 11,000 SCI incidents occur in the United States. Most of these are caused by trauma to the vertebral column, thereby affecting the spinal cord's ability to send and receive messages from the brain to the body's systems that control sensory, motor and autonomic function below the level of injury. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), SCI costs the nation an estimated $9.7 billion each year. Pressure sores alone, a common secondary condition among people with SCI, cost an estimated $1.2 billion. SCI prevention is essential to decreasing the impact of these injuries on individual patients and on society, stated Alex B. Valadka, MD, FACS, AANS spokesperson and trauma expert. Incidence The incidence of SCI is highest among persons age 16-30, in whom 53.1 percent of injuries occur; more injuries occur in this age group than in all other age groups combined. Males represent 81.2 percent of all reported SCIs and 89.8 percent of all sports-related SCIs. Among both genders, auto accidents, falls and gunshots are the three leading causes of SCI, in that order. Among males, diving accidents rank fourth, followed by motorcycle accidents. Among females, medical/surgical complications rank fourth, followed by diving accidents. Auto accidents are the leading cause of SCI in the United States for people age 65 and younger, while falls are the leading cause of SCI for people 65 and older. Sports and recreation-related SCI injuries primarily affect people under age 29. Transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord can cause paralysis, and affects an estimated 300 to 1,500 people in the United States every year. While recent advances in emergency care and rehabilitation allow many SCI patients to survive, methods for reducing the extent of injury and for restoring function are still limited. Although there is currently no cure for SCI, ongoing research to test surgical and drug therapies continues to progress. Drug treatments, decompression surgery, nerve cell transplantation, nerve regeneration, stem cells, and complex drug therapies are all being examined in clinical trials as ways to overcome the effects of SCI. While the late Christopher Reeve made significant strides in increasing public awareness about SCI, there is still a need for educating people about prevention, said Dr. Valadka. SCI Prevention Tips Motor Vehicle Safety Tips Always wear a safety belt and make sure all passengers are wearing safety belts. Ensure that infants, toddlers and young children are properly restrained in an approved child safety seat that is installed correctly in the back seat. Ensure that all children 12 and younger ride in the back seat, properly restrained. Ensure that all children that have outgrown child safety seats are properly restrained in booster seats until they are age 8, or over 49 tall. Obey speed limits and follow rules of the road at all times. Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol or ride as a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who is under the influence. Tips to Prevent Falls in the Home Keep the floor clear and free of debris. Reduce clutter and move telephone and electrical cords out of walkways. Keep the floor clean, but do not apply floor wax. Clean up grease, water and other liquids immediately. Use non-skid throw rugs to reduce your chance of slipping on linoleum. Install handrails in stairways and grab bars in the bathroom (by toilets and in tub/shower.) Make sure living areas are well lit because it is easy to trip in the dark. Be aware that climbing and reaching high places will increase your chance of a fall. Use a sturdy step stool with hand rails when these tasks are necessary. Follow medication dosages closely. Using medication incorrectly may lead to dizziness, weakness and other side effects. These can all contribute to falls. Water and Sports Safety Tips Do not dive in water less than 9 feet deep or in above-ground pools. Follow all rules at water parks and swimming pools. Do not
Re: [TMIC] Relapse Steoirds
This may be a stupid question, but when you say 'excess anti-bodies from our system', is that the same as the anti-bodies in our blood? (i.e.: Bloodtype A+ with a positive anti-M anti-body) Sally-Original Message-From: ROBERT COOK [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: tmic-list@eskimo.comSent: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 08:00:29 -0600Subject: RE: [TMIC] Relapse Steoirds Most definitely, stress has been shown to play an important factor in TM for many. You might talk with your neuro about checking the level of protein in your CSF. Bad thing is it requires a spinal tap. This could assist in confirming a relapse or not. If a relapse is suspected, some have benefited from Plasmapharesis treatments to remove excess anti-bodies from our system, which are thought to be the cause of demyelination in many cases. Unfortunately, steroid treatment/therapy is the recommended course. I am not aware of anything to help control the side effects of confusion and associated general malaise feelings. Bob from Houston-Spring Tex Class of 1994 T-1 para BTW, YESTERDAY WAS MY 12 TH ANNIVERSARY WITH TM. YEA FOR ME !!! HIP HIP HURAY ! dANG, AN'T THIS STUFF FUN ? [Original Message] From: C E [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Date: 2/27/2006 6:58:21 PM Subject: [TMIC] Relapse Steoirds You all are awesome at giving out words of kindness and encouragement. Here is what I am going through and if you have any suggestions, through them my way. June 2005, diagnosed TM. Hospitalized 5 weeks. One week IV steroids, 4 weeks aggressive rehab. Got strong enough to walk again. Beginning of Feb 2006 I started growing weaker. My most affected leg becoming more limp with tighter banding. Met with my neuro, who suggested f/u MRI to look for any changes since June and a Visual Evoked Response Test. The brain MRI showed no change. Which I guess is good since he was looking for MS. But now he says it must must be a relapse of TM.This past weekend, felt like my back was swollen, both legs got worse. I was on an oral dose of Methylprednisolone (Steroid) 250 mg 2 capsules twice daily for 5 days then 1 daily for 5 days, the neuro said that was equal to the IV I had in June. Since I finished this dosage 2 days ago, I became worse. Today my neuro is now putting me back on a steroid, but a different one and a lower dose. Prednisone 60 mg for 4 days, then 40mg for 4 days, and then 20 mg for 4 days. I HATE the way I felt while I was on the Methylprednisolone. I was depressed, food tasted like crap, and overall feeling of exhaustion. I am also diabetic, controlled by Actos, diet and exercise. Naturally, taking the steroids I had to use insulin injections to keep the blood sugar under control. What I would like to do is crawl in a dark room and stay there for the next 12 days. :( AND I have an interview for a new job on March 3rd, cause I got fired from my last one cause I can't keep my thoughts straight and not learning it fast enough. I have NEVER encountered this problem before. Is there anything I can do? What else besides steroids are out there for this monster, TM? How many relapses are probable? I was doing so good and now back to using the walker. Could stress from the job have brought on the relapse. Are there any finding of this sort that stress and TM do not mix? How do I get through the next 12 days of steroids and and interview? How did you all overcome the ill affects of steroids when you were on them? Recap: my concerns of relapse, feeling of sickness and depression and overall feeling of cloudiness while taking the steroids. Carol in Culver, IN T10
Re: [TMIC] Relapse Steoirds
Carol, How the heckdo you WORK? Is it full-time? I was first hit last May, and am walking, etc. fairly well but have such limited endurance. I'm great some days, and others, it's all I can do to take care of myself, especially ifI have an appt. or have to take the bus to buy groceries. So I'm wonderingif your body doesn't just plain need more rest to heal completely? That's my UNprofessional opinion - I really don't know any answers, but that just seems logical. Sally -Original Message-From: C E [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: tmic-list@eskimo.comSent: Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:57:37 -0500Subject: [TMIC] Relapse Steoirds You all are awesome at giving out words of kindness and encouragement. Here is what I am going through and if you have any suggestions, through them my way.June 2005, diagnosed TM. Hospitalized 5 weeks. One week IV steroids, 4 weeks aggressive rehab. Got strong enough to walk again.Beginning of Feb 2006 I started growing weaker. My most affected leg becoming more limp with tighter banding. Met with my neuro, who suggested f/u MRI to look for any changes since June and a Visual Evoked Response Test. The brain MRI showed no change. Which I guess is good since he was looking for MS. But now he says it must must be a relapse of TM.This past weekend, felt like my back was swollen, both legs got worse. I was on an oral dose ofMethylprednisolone (Steroid) 250 mg 2 capsules twice daily for 5 days then 1 daily for 5 days, the neuro said that was equal to ! the IV I had in June. Since I finished this dosage 2 days ago, I became worse. Today my neuro is now putting me back on a steroid, but a different one and a lower dose. Prednisone 60 mg for 4 days, then 40mg for 4 days, and then 20 mg for 4 days. I HATE the way I felt while I was on the Methylprednisolone. I was depressed, food tasted like crap, and overall feeling of exhaustion. I am also diabetic, controlled by Actos, diet and exercise. Naturally, taking the steroids I had to use insulin injections to keep the blood sugar under control. What I would like to do is crawl in a dark room and stay there for the next 12 days. :( AND I have an interview for a new job on March 3rd, cause I got fired from my last one cause I can't keep my thoughts straight and not learning it fast enough. I have NEVER encountered this problem before. Is there anything I can do? What else besides steroids are out there for this monster, TM? How many relapses are probable? I was doing so good and no! w back to using the walker. Could stress from the job have bro! ught on the relapse. Are there any finding of this sort that stress and TM do not mix? How do I get through the next 12 days of steroids and and interview? How did you all overcome the ill affects of steroids when you were on them?Recap: my concerns of relapse, feeling of sickness and depression and overall feeling of cloudiness while taking the steroids.Carol in Culver, INT10
