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Glimmer of Hope for Spine-Injury Victims Story

Glimmer of Hope for Spine-Injury Victims

It's just in rats for now, but scientists have induced spinal cord regrowth by taking tiny nerves from the rib cage, bathing them in a growth-inducing protein, and then grafting them into the area of the cut spinal cord.

"By using tiny nerves from the rib cage as cables connecting the severed spinal cord, we were able to get some improvement in leg function," said Dr. Vernon Lin, a professor of physical medicine at the University of California at Irvine and director of the Spinal Cord Injury Group at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Medical Center. (Read more about Glimmer of Hope for Spine-Injury Victims)

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Waiting May Reduce Need for Back Surgery Story

Waiting May Reduce Need for Back Surgery

New studies demonstrate that waiting may be the best alternative to back surgery.

Approximately 1.5 million back surgeries are performed worldwide. These surgeries are performed to address painful problems associated with slipped or misaligned disks. Intransient sciatica and other lower back conditions are extremely painful and can impact the quality of life of those afflicted. New research though suggests that 75% of such cases will improve on their own if left untreated. (Read more about Waiting May Reduce Need for Back Surgery)

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What is an Aneurysm? Story

What is an Aneurysm?

WHAT IS AN AORTIC ANEURYSM?
With Dr.Sateesh Babu
Vascular Associates of Westchester (Read more about What is an Aneurysm?)

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FDA Approves Cervical Disc Implant Treatment Story

FDA Approves Cervical Disc Implant Treatment

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Prestige disc implant device to treat degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. Medtronic has created the first artificial disc for insertion into the neck to allow a larger degree of movement than the traditional spinal fusion treatment. Medtronic has agreed to conduct a seven year study as part of the FDA approval agreement.

The company performed a clinical trial observing 541 patients receiving treatment for cervical degenerative disc disease comparing Prestige Cervical Disc to spinal fusion. The results found Prestige to have a greater degree of neurological success as well as fewer revision surgeries. The device is made of a stainless steel two-piece ball-and-trough configuration that functions like a joint and offers the greatest potential for neck mobility. (Read more about FDA Approves Cervical Disc Implant Treatment)

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Something Good About Spine Surgery Story

Something Good About Spine Surgery

Spine Surgery was found a more effective treatment for degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis than were non-surgical methods according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Surgery is commonly used as a treatment for degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. There has been controversy regarding it's effectiveness in comparison with non-surgical methods. (Read more about Something Good About Spine Surgery)

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Human Stem Cells Return Motor Function to Paralyzed Rats Story

Human Stem Cells Return Motor Function to Paralyzed Rats

Researchers from the University of California, San Diego report that experimental rats recovered from blood flow related paralysis after receiving grafts of human spinal stem cells.

When damage occurs due to loss of blood flow to the spine's neural cells, applying human neural stem cells directly to the spinal cord achieves recovery of motor function. In this specific type of paralysis, known as spinal cord ischemia, there is no mechanical damage to the spinal cord. The brain motor centers remain partially connected to the spinal cord but the loss of inhibitory neurons leads to the degeneration of muscle control in lower limbs. (Read more about Human Stem Cells Return Motor Function to Paralyzed Rats)

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ARTIFICIAL DISC TREATS LOWER BACK PAIN Story

ARTIFICIAL DISC TREATS LOWER BACK PAIN

Jumping off rooftops, running through burning buildings, crashing cars, it's all in a day's work for Jeff Gibson. "I did Batman movies, Robocop, Conspiracy Theory, War of the Worlds."

Some would call Hollywood stuntman, Jeff Gibson, a dare-devil adrenaline machine. In addition to performing life-threatening stunts as a livelihood, Jeff also skydives, races cars and scuba-dives. But, it wasn't on the movie set or on the race track that sparked Jeff's battle with excruciating back pain. It was a simple house chore. (Read more about ARTIFICIAL DISC TREATS LOWER BACK PAIN)

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CORE STRENGTHENING AND BACK PAIN Story

CORE STRENGTHENING AND BACK PAIN

As a youngster, Angela Benvenuto had a diving accident which severely damaged her spine. Her vertebrae became compressed in several different places.
“I was writhing in pain for years and it was my chiropractor who suggested yoga would be helpful and when I went to yoga class, it was the first time I was without pain in many years and I became addicted.” (Read more about CORE STRENGTHENING AND BACK PAIN)

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BACK PAIN SURGERY Story

BACK PAIN SURGERY

Joyce Hamrah regularly travels to Paris and Milan hunting down the latest fashions for her high-end clothing store. But, last year, excruciating back pain left Joyce completely incapacitated. Not only was she unable to fly, she could barely walk. “It’s like somebody sticking a knife in your back and then they start twisting it and then they start bringing it down one leg and then the other leg,” says Joyce. (Read more about BACK PAIN SURGERY)

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