Picking Our Brain with Shepherd Center: Recent Episodes
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The Official Podcast of Shepherd Center, a private, not-for-profit hospital specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury and brain injury.
David and Brittany Carter met four years after David sustained a T-7 injury in a motorcycle crash in August 2010. He had been looking for someone who could see past his wheelchair for who he really was, and he found that in Brittany. On a new episode of Picking Our Brain with Shepherd Center, David and Brittany join us to discuss navigating a relationship after injury.
Nutrition is an essential part of staying healthy for us all; it also plays a vital role in during and after recovery from injury. In this episode, Jill Newsome, clinical nutrition manager at Shepherd Center, and Allison Motter, dietitian at Shepherd Center, join us to discuss what maintaining a healthy diet means during recovery.
Family members and caregivers are an important part of the rehabilitation and treatment process. Christine Trotman's daughter Eliana first began experiencing symptoms of neuromyelitis optica in December 2020. As her daughter began treatment at Shepherd Center's Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute, Christine found herself adjusting to her role as a caregiver. In this episode, Christine shares her experience, as well as advice for other caregivers.
Are you a workers' compensation case manager, claims manager or life care planner who are seeking options for their injured client? In this podcast, Gloria Fagan, RN, BSN, worker's compensation outreach manager at Shepherd Center, discusses the services provided for injured workers, the admissions process, and going back home or to work after injury.
On Veterans Day and every day, we are grateful to the brave men and women who serve our country at home and abroad. In this episode of Picking Our Brain with Shepherd Center, we’re joined by Travis Ellis, co-founder of Shepherd’s Men. Comprised of active or retired servicemen and civilian volunteers, Shepherd’s Men enthusiastically raises awareness and funds for the SHARE Military Initiative (SHARE) at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA and advocates for veterans experiencing the hidden injuries of war.
The return of fall sports brings with it a return of a common sports risk—concussions. In this episode, Russell Gore, M.D., medical director of the Complex Concussion Clinic at Shepherd Center, discusses what causes a concussion, the risk factors for concussion in sports and how concussions are treated.
September is Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month! In 2006, Ben Trockman sustained a spinal cord injury in a dirt bike accident. Today, he is the diversity and inclusion outreach specialist at Old National Bank, where he focuses on the inclusion of people with disabilities for the workforce and the community the bank serves. He is also a member of his local city council. Ben joins Picking Our Brain with Shepherd Center to discuss his experience with rehabilitation and his work with disability inclusion.
The transition back home following rehabilitation is a major step—for both the patient and their caregivers. At Shepherd Center, the Transition Support Program prevents rehospitalization, improves health and safety outcomes, and promotes patient and family autonomy once the patient is discharged from Shepherd Center. Laura O’Pry, manager for the Transition Support Program, joins the podcast to discuss the role of family caregivers during this process.
Electric scooters can be a convenient and fun way way to get yourself from point A to point B—but it's also important to get yourself to point B safely. The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway safety has teamed up with Shepherd Center to create Scoot Safe, the first federally funded, evidence-based electric scooter injury prevention campaign. Emma Harrington, injury prevention director at Shepherd Center, speaks with us about why this campaign matters, and the best ways to keep yourself—and others!—safe.
No one expects stroke to happen, especially in young adults. Seth Dickinson was a freshman at the University of Mississippi when he experienced a ruptured brain aneurysm and AVM rupture in March 2015. In this episode, Seth joins Picking Our Brain with Shepherd Center to speak about his experience with rehabilitation and returning to school.
April is Occupational Therapy Month! Occupational therapists help patients in rehabilitation improve their independence with daily living activities. In this podcast, two Shepherd Center occupational therapists discuss the individualized therapy they provide on the continuum of care.
Patient safety is everyone's job! From administrators and environmental services to food services and industrial engineers, all aspects of healthcare impact safety. Jacqueline Baron-Lee, PhD, CPHQ, PMP, Director of Quality and Outcome Management at Shepherd Center, joins the podcast to discuss the importance of patient safety.
February is Recreation Therapy Month! Jenny DiLaura, MA, CCLS, CTRS, lead therapist for health and wellness in Shepherd Center's recreation therapy program, joins the podcast to discuss the role of recreation therapy in the rehabilitation process. She also discusses how the program has adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing both in-person therapy and virtual wellness classes.
Janera Baskerville discusses her experiences with stroke rehabilitation and SHARE Military Initiative at Shepherd Center.
John Smith, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy explains voters' rights for those who have disabilities.
Dr. Angela Beninga discusses telemedicine visits during COVID-19, what to expect and how to prepare for your appointment.
Dr. Michael Yochelson and Dr. Jesse Couk discuss Coronavirus, how it spreads, symptoms and preventative measures you should take.
As we enter the new year, many of us are crafting resolutions to focus on our health and fitness in 2020. Shepherd Center embraces a total approach to fitness and wellness that emphasizes physical and mental well-being with facilities that accommodate land-based and aquatic classes, personalized programs, private lessons and personal training.
In today's podcast, Lisa Eagen, Lead Exercise Physiologist in Shepherd Center's ProMotion Fitness Center, will discuss how to approach a fitness routine that meets your needs after injury.
In today's podcast, Pete Anziano, Shepherd Center Peer Support Manager discusses wheelchair accessibility in public spaces, and proper etiquette around wheelchair users.
Chronic pain is in an extremely complex and poorly understood medical problem that can have profound effects on one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Uncontrolled pain impacts all aspects of daily activities. But how do you when it's time to see a pain specialist?
Dr. James Liadis, physiatrist in the Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute at Shepherd Center, explains in this podcast.
Diving is the fourth leading cause of spinal cord injury for men, and the fifth for women, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. A single dive can result in a life-altering injury. Diving injuries take place in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, creeks, swimming holes and any water environment.
In this podcast, Emma Harrington, Shepherd Center’s Director of Injury Prevention Education, discusses how and where diving injuries occur, and how to prevent them.
Each year more than 100 adolescents, ages 12 to 21, come to Shepherd Center from all over the country. They or their families choose Shepherd for its specialized treatment teams, age-appropriate therapy and expertise in treating teens and young adults with spinal cord injuries. The adolescent rehabilitation program follows Shepherd Center's philosophy of returning patients to the highest possible level of functioning and independence, while addressing adolescents' needs for autonomy, privacy and control. Cheryl Linden discusses the Adolescent Rehabilitation Programs available at Shepherd Center.
Ian Flannery discusses the MS Wellness program at Shepherd Center. He explains the different approaches of care, and how the program empowers patients to stay active and decrease the effects of deconditioning that can result from MS.
Cecilia Rider the Associate Manager of the Recreation Therapist Department at Shepherd Center shares why recreation is imperative for someone with a disability, the many benefits associated with recreational activity, and how to find workshops and events in your community.
Shepherd Center's Assistive Technology Center works with technologies like smart phones, tablets and voice-activated devices to provide assistance and support to people living with disabilities. Shepherd Center occupational therapists evaluate each user's lifestyle requirements and functional abilities, then provide custom modifications to hardware, software, electronics and other appliances so that users can live safely and function productively.
Adina Bradshaw, a speech pathologist at Shepherd Center, discusses how Shepherd Center uses adaptive technology to fit the patients' needs.
Animal assisted therapy can play an important part in the rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury. Shepherd Center "employs" multiple therapy dogs who bring joy to patients and also help with therapeutic exercises. In addition, they assist with tasks such as opening doors and switching lights on and off.
Shepherd Center exercise physiologist Mary Ashlyn Thiede discusses the role of therapy dogs and the benefits of animal assisted therapy.
At Shepherd Spine and Pain Institute, doctors offer a variety of treatments and comprehensive care for chronic back pain, one of the most common types of pain that people experience.
In today’s podcast, Dr. Erik Shaw, an interventional pain management specialist at Shepherd Spine and Pain Institute, addresses the causes of back pain and how to know when your pain has become a chronic problem requiring medical attention. Dr. Shaw also explains the variety of treatment options available for chronic back pain.
The CRU was designed for patients who are admitted with conditions that occurred post-injury or disease and offers treatment to stabilize these conditions and help secure better health.
Wes Chay, MD, discusses The Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit at Shepherd Center, and how it provides additional levels of care to help secure better future health.
Progressive forms of MS are characterized by a sustained build-up of symptoms with an insidious increase in disability. With Primary Progressive MS (PPMS) in particular, disability accumulates twice as fast as in those with Relapsing MS (RMS). This means that people with PPMS experience more problems with walking, more difficulty remaining in the workforce, and require more assistance with everyday activities.
Ben Thrower, MD and the medical director of the MS Institute at Shepherd Center, discusses maintaining a healthy lifestyle with progressive MS.
Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries caused by a sudden jolt or blow to the head and typically resolve within a week or two. In typical concussions, headaches and other symptoms subside, and patients feel as capable as they did before their injury.
Russell Gore, MD, director of Shepherd Center’s Complex Concussion Clinic, will discuss sports related concussions and the rehabilitation process.
In today’s podcast Rebecca Washburn, MS, discusses the importance of fitness after injury and the ways Shepherd Center’s facilities and programs promote healthy living for people with disabilities.
Patients with catastrophic injury face a higher severity of illness requiring complex medical management. As medical complexity evolves in the course of rehabilitation, Shepherd Center assures access to specialized medical needs. A team of experts including physiatrists, internal medicine/pulmonology intensivists and specialized clinicians collaboratively manage the most medically complex, traumatic patient care needs.
In today’s podcast, Shepherd Center chief medical officer Michael Yochelson, M.D., MBA, discusses complex rehabilitation care and efforts to minimize conditions that could result in setbacks for patients.
Shepherd Center provides assistance from vocational rehabilitation case managers after rehabilitation for a spinal cord or brain injury. They assist clients in returning to their previous jobs, pursuing new employment options or preparing them for employment in the future. Case managers make recommendations and help implement workplace accommodations to support the client’s independence and autonomy.
Additionally, case managers educate employers and help manage clients’ disability benefits whether it’s through Social Security or their own long term disability plans.
In today’s broadcast, Shepherd vocational specialist and peer support liaison Zachary Bradley discusses workplace accessibility for people with disabilities.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant often used by patients as an oil to manage the symptoms of chronic conditions.
In today’s podcast, Ben Thrower, M.D., the medical director of the Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center, will discuss the use of CBD products in managing the symptoms of MS.
Shepherd Center sponsors 11 sports teams that enable individuals with physical disabilities to participate in sports on a recreational or competitive level. Athletes compete in local and regional competitions, as well as at the national and international levels. Regular practice sessions offer expert instruction, as well as camaraderie and peer support.
In today’s podcast, sport teams coordinator Matt Edens discusses the program and how it raises awareness about disabilities and increases participation in adapted sports.
In partnership with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Shepherd Center has created AutoCoach, an app that teaches parents how to effectively and safely teach their teen to drive. AutoCoach aims to improve parental supervisory behaviors and involvement through quizzes, distraction notifications, driving logs and a ten-chapter curriculum based on best practices.
In today’s podcast, Shepherd Center director of injury prevention Emma Harrington discusses how the app aims to combat motor vehicle crashes and promote injury prevention. The app will be available as a free download in the Apple and Google Play app stores in summer 2017.
Caring for a person with a neurodegenerative disease can be extremely challenging. Beyond the potential physical exhaustion caregivers may experience, they also may experience emotional and psychological changes when having to take care of someone else, and it is a potential problem that needs to be addressed.
In this podcast, Deborah Backus, director of multiple sclerosis research at Shepherd Center and co-author of the paper “Coping With Caregiver Burnout When Caring for a Person With Neurodegenerative Disease: A Guide for Caregivers,” discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing the impact of caregiving.
People with spinal cord injuries and their families often feel anxious about returning home after rehabilitation and dealing with the many challenges related to living with such injuries. Patients with SCI who receive more intensive peer mentorship have more active engagement in rehabilitation, greater self-efficacy and lower hospital readmissions.
In this segment of Shepherd Center Radio, Minna Hong, the Spinal Cord Injury Peer Support Program supervisor at Shepherd Center, discusses the value of peer support and the importance of peer-led self-care education classes after injury.
Today, Shepherd Center access case manager Dorea Fowler discusses treatments for people with spinal cord injury in the first 72 hours after injury.
This podcast describes the way spinal cord injury affects the body, including the levels of injury and muscles that coordinate with those injuries, and how people with spinal cord injury differ from other patients in an intensive care unit.
When a patient has a spinal cord injury, depending on the level of injury, breathing can become the most important issue they and their family are facing. When a patient has limited use of their diaphragm, respiratory therapists assist through ventilator management or coughing assistance. Respiratory therapists keep the patient breathing and get them breathing on their own before physical recovery can begin.
Shepherd Center respiratory therapist Kelley Taylor is here today to speak about the role of respiratory therapy in the rehabilitation process.
About 700,000 strokes occur in the United States each year. To serve the healthcare needs of these patients, Shepherd Center provides a full continuum of services – from inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient care for stroke rehabilitation.
The hospital’s program specializes in rehabilitation for people who may be in college, raising a family or in the prime of their career.
In today’s podcast, Dr. Andrew Dennison, a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with an additional subspecialty board certification in brain injury medicine, discusses symptoms and risk factors of a stroke, as well as some therapies and treatments that are typically used in rehabilitation.
Secondary complications are a major health issue for people living with brain and spinal cord injury. Secondary conditions are negative health outcomes that occur as a direct result of a disability. The most common secondary conditions for these patients are pressure sores, respiratory complications, urinary tract infections, spasticity and neuropathic pain.
Today, Angela Beninga, D.O., a staff physiatrist in Shepherd Center’s Multispecialty Clinic and the director of Shepherd Center’s Spinal Cord Injury Day Program, joins us to discuss diagnosis and treatment for common complications post-discharge.
Are you a workers' compensation case manager, claims manager or life care planner who are seeking options for their injured client? In this podcast, Heddi Silon, the director of workers compensation at Shepherd Center, discusses the admissions process for patients covered under worker’s compensation.
In this segment of Shepherd Center Radio, we discuss options for patients who need a “tune up,” those who never participated in rehabilitation, or injured workers who have previously participated in rehabilitation and are more than six months post-injury.
Brain injury affects the entire family, not just the injured person, and the support of the family system plays a significant role in recovery.
In this podcast, Tana Hall, a family counselor for the Acquired Brain Injury Program at Shepherd Center, discusses the grieving process and how brain injury impacts the family system. She offers strategies for families to cope with the long-term effects of brain injury.
About 700,000 strokes occur in the United States each year. A stroke can affect a person physically and emotionally, and can affect the way a person thinks (cognition) and acts (behavior). Living with and returning home following a stroke can be daunting, requiring preparation for a patient’s ongoing safety, accessibility and independence.
Listen in as clinical nurse specialist Tiffany LeCroy joins us to discuss stroke education for Shepherd Center patients undergoing rehabilitation in the stroke program, addressing stroke awareness, prevention and how to manage life after a stroke.
Athletes have long thrived at Shepherd Center. Over the past 41 years, Shepherd Center has treated countless patient-athletes from across the country who played high school, college or professional sports. In addition to occupational and physical therapy, patients have access to the largest team of recreation therapy specialists in the nation, as well as to an adaptive sports program that includes competitive teams, sports and health clinics, and outdoor recreation workshops.
Listen in as Dan Dale, SCI Day Program Physical Therapist, explains the rehabilitation process for athletes who sustain spinal cord injuries.
Shepherd Center engages in research to improve clinical outcomes and the quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). At the hospital’s MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Research Program, researchers study the effects of rehabilitation and exercise interventions for people with MS, and studies also address vocation and quality of life. Researchers also make a concerted effort to share their findings to people with MS, as well as MS healthcare providers, caregivers and healthcare payers in hopes of optimizing function and quality of life for all people living with MS.
Shepherd Center’s MS research program is unique in that it is truly an integration of clinical and research endeavors. This integrated team, led by Dr. Deborah Backus, PT, Ph.D., FACRM, is comprised of physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, exercise specialists, physicians and research collaborators from various related fields and institutions, who endeavor to answer meaningful questions that can be translated into clinical practice.
The increasingly widespread use of opioid painkillers for chronic pain has created a public health crisis as many people are abusing these highly addictive medications.
Aiming to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions doctors write, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines that recommend doctors try pain relievers like ibuprofen before prescribing the highly addictive pills, and that they give most patients only a few days’ supply.
But pain intervention specialists actually have a number of other alternative treatments that may address chronic pain with little or no medication.
Today, Dr. Erik Shaw of Shepherd Spine and Pain Institute addresses the opioid crisis and explains some pain interventions that are helping patients manage their condition without addictive painkillers.
Each year, an estimated 2.4 million people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and another 795,000 people are diagnosed with an acquired brain injury (ABI) from non-traumatic causes, such as stroke.
Brain injury can have significant, long-term effects.
In fact, more than 5.3 million Americans are living with a lifelong disability because of TBI, and an estimated 1.1 million have a disability related to stroke.
With this large of an impact, many caregivers are seeking help from online educational resources.
To meet the needs of its brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation patients and their families, Shepherd Center created an educational website found at MyShepherdConnection.org.
An in-depth section is devoted to brain injury-related topics, such as mood, behavior, memory, safety, nutrition, medication management and family dynamics. Instructional videos and other educational materials are also available on the website.
A number of other online resources also provide valuable information.
Here to discuss My Shepherd Connection and other resources is Susan Johnson, director of brain injury services at Shepherd Center.
Shepherd Center embraces a total approach to fitness and wellness that emphasizes physical and mental wellbeing.
Facilities include a weight room, indoor track, full-court gymnasium and swimming pool.
Through land and aquatic classes, personalized programs, massage, yoga and personal training, Shepherd Center attempts to improve its members’ fitness and quality of life.
The facility is completely accessible to allow people with physical disabilities to participate in all programs, as appropriate.
Professionally trained and certified staff members are available to ensure that all members receive the highest quality assistance.
Shepherd also introduces inpatients and day program patients to its fitness center, including aquatics, to give them the tools and knowledge to participate in their community fitness centers after discharge from the hospital.
Rebecca Washburn, M.S., is here to discuss how health and wellness before a person’s injury is important, but even more important following injury to maintain strength, endurance and prevent secondary complications.
Patients at Shepherd Center are at risk of infection for a few important reasons.
The risk goes up the longer a person is in a facility, and Shepherd’s average inpatient is in the hospital for more than six weeks.
Because Shepherd Center is a rehabilitation facility, patients are very mobile throughout the hospital, which sacrifices some infection protection afforded by having them stay put in their rooms.
Also, a high proportion of Shepherd patients use medical devices that add the risk of infection; these include certain kinds of IVs, tracheostomies and urinary catheters.
Listen in as Sarah Culberson, RN, discusses how Shepherd Center is working to decrease the risks of infection to patients.
Patients in the acute rehabilitation phase of recovery from a brain injury are at a high risk of falls, largely because of physical limitations and cognitive impairments.
But some prevention strategies implemented at Shepherd Center have proven successful in reducing fall rates significantly in this setting.
Falls among these patients can occur because patients experience weakness, confusion, impulsivity, impaired safety awareness, and poor judgment and reasoning.
They may also have uncontrollable spasms or movements that increase the risk of sliding out of a bed or a chair. Also, assisted falls may occur when a patient with limitations is learning new ways of moving and attempting to rebuild strength and endurance.
Strategies to prevent falls among these patients can be simple, but effective.
Shepherd Center uses bed alarms on all brain-injured patients, seatbelt alarms, one-on-one attendants and frequent rounding on patients.
Also, leadership engages staff members in maintaining a culture that recognizes the high risk of falls requires a high sense of urgency in responding to alarms, and that safety has to be more important than privacy for the brain-injured patient.
Shepherd Center Brain Injury Unit nursing manager Gail Greene, RN, is here to explain how Shepherd Center uses an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to teaching and reinforcing the use of these strategies.
People with spinal cord injury and other conditions that limit movement are at great risk for pressure ulcer development.
Many risk factors predispose people with spinal cord injury to the development of these wounds; factors include impaired sensation, mobility, spasms and respiratory issues.
At Shepherd Center, nurse Cathy Koerner and her colleagues have implemented a comprehensive program to prevent these ulcers among patients while they are in the hospital and after they discharge.
Today, Cathy will share some pressure ulcer prevention strategies, which include scheduled turning and repositioning in beds and wheelchairs; management of bowel and bladder issues; proper support surfaces; and regular checks of the skin.
Every October, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month to recognize the workforce contributions of people with disabilities.
Those workers include people living with spinal cord or brain injury.
Returning to work after rehabilitation for these life-changing injuries is filled with challenges.
But with the guidance of vocational case managers and others, many have overcome the challenges and now make vital contributions to their employers and communities.
They have also become more financially independent and are living full, productive lives.
At Shepherd Center in Atlanta, vocational case manager Debbie Page counsels patients and employers on strategies to accommodate disabilities in the workplace.
She and her colleagues have witnessed many successful returns to work, and Debbie is sharing her insights today with Shepherd Center Radio listeners.
Congress has designated September as National Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Awareness Month.
In addition to raising awareness and support for much-needed cure research, National SCI Awareness Month aims to further educate the public about how paralyzing accidents can be prevented.
There is no cure for spinal cord injury, nor is there an FDA-approved therapeutic or device that can restore function.
But researchers are working toward these goals, and more research dollars are needed to continue that work.
For now, people who sustain a spinal cord injury receive acute care in trauma hospitals and then typically undergo rehabilitation, which can help to restore some function and independence.
Early, comprehensive rehabilitation – such as what Shepherd Center provides – yields the best outcomes.
Anna Choo Elmers, M.D., is here to discuss how efforts are under way across the nation to prevent spinal cord injuries, especially those caused by distracted driving, falls and diving.
Patients who are in a reduced or minimally conscious state following a traumatic brain injury are often not ready to begin an active rehabilitation program.
But rehabilitation services are critical to optimize recovery until the patient emerges.
It is also vital to educate and train the patient’s family and/or caregivers about expectations and care.
For these patients, Shepherd Center’s specialized Disorders of Consciousness (DOC) Program provides pre-rehabilitation and education services.
Ford Vox, M.D., is here to discuss how research is under way at Shepherd Center and elsewhere with an eye toward new and innovative treatments for patients with a DOC.
Outpatient Services at Shepherd Center provides comprehensive medical treatment for people with spinal cord injury, brain injury, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain on an outpatient basis.
These programs provide individualized, integrative care and may even include family members.
Listen as Emily Cade, MS, CCM,CRC,CLCP, director of Shepherd Center Outpatient Services, discusses the outpatient services available at Shepherd Center.
Shepherd Center is the lead clinical partner in the critical final stage of trials for a robotics-assisted walking device that could improve the lives of people with limited mobility caused by spinal cord or brain injury, stroke or multiple sclerosis.
Developer Parker Hannifin Corp. describes the exoskeleton device – called Indego® – as a “powered orthosis worn around the waist and legs that allows individuals with spinal cord injuries to stand and walk."
The device is being tested at Shepherd Center and a few other facilities across the nation in people with spinal cord and brain injury, multiple sclerosis and stroke.
Parker hopes to obtain FDA approval for the device in late 2015.
Casey Kandilakis, PT, DPT, NCS, is here to discuss the research and development of this robotics-assisted walking device.
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.
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.
Studies show that having a stroke increases risk for having a second stroke, so doctors emphasize healthy lifestyles for patients in this situation.
Diet and exercise play a significant role, as well as controlling risk factors such as high blood pressure.
Listen in as Payal Fadia, M.D., discusses how to live a healthier life after you've had a stroke.
It's important to be confident about the quality of care you or a loved one will receive when entering a rehabilitation program.
There are certain things to look for and questions to ask when narrowing down your list of options.
A specialized rehabilitation facility like Shepherd Center offers distinct advantages for people who need rehabilitation for a spinal cord or brain injury.
Advantages include staff expertise, a comprehensive continuum of care, a younger patient population and ongoing research.
Listen in as Donald P. Leslie, M.D., discusses the rehabilitation facility at Shepherd Center, so you can make the right decision for your brain or spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
Researchers are reporting exciting work under way to develop new treatments for multiple sclerosis.
A number of clinical trials are under way at Shepherd Center and elsewhere.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Plegridy™ (peginterferon beta-1a), a new treatment for people with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS).
Clinical trials show the drug reduces relapses, disability progression and brain lesions.
MS management can be divided into three areas: relapse treatment, symptom management and disease modification.
Listen in as Ben Thrower, M.D., discusses the latest developments in MS management at Shepherd Center.
Many exciting developments are occurring in the field of spinal cord injury research.
They include both basic and applied research aimed at finding a cure, as well as ways to improve function and quality of life.
After years of tests and research there have been many positive results.
Listen in as Edelle Field-Fote, PT, Ph.D., discusses spinal cord injury research and the work being done at Shepherd Center to help improve the quality of life for its patients.