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Neurons are the cells that comprise your nervous system. They carry information throughout your brain and into various parts of your body through the use of electrical signals. In large vertebrates, neurons may need to be several feet long.
In anatomy, the vertebral (or neural) arch is a circle of bone that runs along the posterior side of the vertrebral column. The vertebral arch is not composed of columns though it is a part of the vertebral column and is essential for our survival. Additionally, the arch oversees several processes for articular and muscular attachments.
When attachments of tissue abnormally stretch the spinal cord inside the spinal column and limit its movement, the resulting condition is called tethered spinal cord syndrome. With treatment, the prognosis is good, with most patients experiencing a normal life expectancy, but the person may have some neurological and movement problems.
A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) is a device surgically implanted at the spine to send a mild electric current to block pain impulses traveling on your spinal cord. According to the Mayfield Clinic, a small wire carries a current from a battery-operated generator to the nerve fibers along the spinal cord. When the device is turned on using a remote-control like device, the stimulation feels like a mild tingling in the area where pain is usually felt. Most patients report feeling a 40 to 50 percent reduction in pain while equipped with a spinal cord stimulator.
After a doctor surgically implants a Spinal Cord Stimulator, also known as a Dorsal Column Stimulator, many patients feel immediate relief and are able to function much more normally than they did under the effects of chronic leg and back pain. According to Dr. Edgar G. Dawson of SpineUniverse.com, a Spinal Cord Stimulator is surgically placed at the spine and produces low-level electrical impulses that interfere with the direct transmission of pain signals moving along the spinal cord to the brain. Because the device is surgically implanted, many patients initially question how the device operates without frequent charging. It all…
Stroke is most commonly associated with the brain, but strokes can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the spinal cord.
Spinal cord stimulators, used to minimize chronic back pain with low-level electrical current applied directly to the spinal cord, are implanted in the muscle tissue of the back. The device is about the same size as a standard pacemaker and can have an internal long-life battery or hook up to an external power source. There is a low risk of infection, but it can occur.
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a medical technique used since the late 1960s to alleviate chronic pain. This is a type of pain that persists, does not improve and in some cases may prevent patients from leading normal lives. According to NeurosurgeryToday.org, approximately 50,000 devices are implanted globally every year. This medical procedure is approved by the United States FDA to treat chronic pain in your back, legs or arms; but, like any other medical procedure, SCS is not without risk of side effects.
Tethered spinal cord syndrome is a genetic condition that causes progressive neurological decay. It is a complication of spina bifida. The first symptoms appear during childhood, but it often goes undiagnosed until adulthood, when the symptoms of progressive neural damage become too severe to overlook or ignore. Living with tethered spinal cord syndrome requires intensive medical care and a strong support network.
Tethered spinal cord syndrome is caused by tissue attachments that limit movement of the spinal cord. The syndrome typically is present at birth and usually becomes apparent during childhood, but sometimes is not diagnosed until adulthood. It also may begin later for various reasons.
Spinal cord stimulators are a treatment option for chronic back pain. A stimulator is a device that sends low electrical impulses to block signals associated with pain from reaching the brain.
Spinal cord stimulation is a technique used to address chronic back pain when more conservative treatment methods have failed. It involves surgical implantation of an electrical device near the spinal cord that replaces pain messages from the brain with a more tolerable tingling sensation. The procedures for placement of a stimulating device vary according to several factors.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious neurological disease that affects the nerve cells that control the voluntary muscles of the body. ALS is a progressive and fatal disease.
Spinal cord stimulators are machines designed to relieve nerve pain caused by spinal cord nerve damage. The procedure is usually a last resort, after other treatments for sciatica or back pain have failed. It involves an implantation of the device.
A spinal cord stimulator is an electrical lead, coupled with a power source, that is inserted into the body in an effort to treat back pain or nerve problems caused by the degeneration of the spinal cord or vertebrae, sciatic or other cervical, lumbar and thoracic nerve pain. Typically, a spinal cord simulator is used as a last resort, after other treatment measures for back pain have failed.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a serious neurological disorder that weakens muscles, disables its victims and almost always results in death. Commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS is not easy to diagnose. No single test exists to positively confirm this condition. Consequently, sufferers---usually between 40 and 60 years old---must undergo a battery of diagnostic tests in search of a diagnosis.
The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system. It is a bundle of nerves that passes through the bones of the vertebrae down the back. It sends sensations to the brain from the body, and returns motor commands to the various parts of the body. The spinal cord has a primary role in reflexes and in the autonomic nervous system.
Vocal cord paralysis, formally known as Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis, is a dysfunction of the recurrent laryngeal nerve or vagus nerve that stimulates the larynx. The normal speaking voice can usually be restored with proper evaluation and treatment.
Spinal tuberculosis is an infection of the spine by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium. It is one of the oldest known diseases and has plagued mankind since Neolithic times. Spinal tuberculosis is still a common disease in developing countries, although it is now rare in the United States. Tuberculosis is contagious and can cause permanent neurological damage and spinal deformities, especially in developing children.
