The primary tool in your paralysis survival kit is the Paralysis Resource Center (PRC). Paralysis can occur gradually, over time. It can also happen in an instant. In any case, loss of motor or sensory function dictates major life changes. The role of the PRC is to arm people with information to navigate these changes.
We at the PRC urge you to learn more about our services. We offer a short video to explain what we do and what we offer. Click here to view this video now. (13:12 in duration)
Our services are deep and credible.
• Spend some time browsing our Internet site www.paralysis.org. If we cannot answer your specific question perhaps we can connect you to a resource that can.
• Contact us directly. The PRC is staffed by a highly-trained group of PRC Information Specialists who can answer your questions or refer you to someone who can. Hablamos español. Call toll-free, 1-800-539-7309.
• Get a copy of the Paralysis Resource Guide. It’s 320 pp. of useful contacts and connections. It’s free. Call us – we’ll send a book right out. Or click here for information on ordering via Internet.
• Contact us by phone, 1-800-539-7309; by email with our feedback form.
• Check out the Resources section of our website.
Some frequently asked questions for those new to paralysis:
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What happens in the first hours after spinal cord injury?
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Are there any clinical trials for acute SCI?
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What is the expected level of function for a specific diagnosis?
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How do I pick a rehab center?
What happens in the first hours after spinal cord injury?
Since the most common cause of SCI is from a motor vehicle accident, typically there are tremendous forces involved that can fracture spinal bones; bone fragments can compress the spinal cord which will affect blood supply and further damage the cord. A surgeon will often do what is called a decompression, to align the spine again and remove fragments that are compressing the spinal cord. Sometimes doctors add some type of metal hardware, wires or sometimes bone to stabilize the spine. As with most bone fractures, there will likely be some type of brace worn on the body, or in the case of upper/cervical injuries, on the head. The so-called “halo brace” keeps the head and spine in exact alignment and yet allows for the person to move about and continue with rehab and recovery.
In most U.S. emergency rooms, patients who appear to have spinal cord injuries are usually given a drug called methyprednisoline, a strong steroid that may reduce inflammation in the cord and thus preserve fragile nerve tissue.
What is the expected level of function for a specific diagnosis?
In general people lose function – both sensory and motor – below the level of injury. For example, a person with a diagnosis of T6 paraplegia will have no feeling or ability to move below the 6th thoracic vertebrae. Likewise, a c4 quad (or tetraplegic) will not be able to move or feel below the 4th cervical vertebrae in the neck. Function that corresponds to spinal vertebrae levels can be charted on what is called a dermatome map.
Such maps are based on generalizations. Many people defy all expectation and recover significant function. One of the big questions after spinal cord trauma is what the ultimate recovery of will be. In other words, what is the expected function for a person with a certain level of injury?
The answer is not possible to predict with any certainty. There are general guidelines based on clinical experience over time but every case of paralysis is unique. Some people who might not be expected to recover major function do so; others don’t exceed what was predicted.
The Consortium for Spinal Cord Medicine, a collaboration of leading professionals in the SCI trauma field has published evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on expected outcome after SCI. These are available in print or electronic form for purchase. Please click here for ordering information.
How do I pick a rehab center?
While the nearest facility may be the most convenient, and may offer many advantages in terms of support from family and friends, it may not offer the level of service needed in a complex injury or disease. Does the facility have experience with the particular diagnosis or condition? Usually the more patients a facility treats, the higher the expertise level of the staff. Is the place accredited – that is, does it meet professional standards of care for your specific needs? For example, accreditation by the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission (CARF) for spinal cord injury indicates that the facility meets a minimum standard level of care.
Another aspect of good rehab is the breadth and quality of the professional staff on hand. Besides experienced doctors and nurses, the facility should have physical and occupational therapists, psychologists and other therapists.
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