by Lauran Neergaard In this photo provided by UPMC and Pitt Health Sciences, neurosurgeon Dr. Peter Gerszten tells study participant Heather Rendulic how electrodes will be implanted on her spinal cord at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh on May 7, 2021. A stroke left Rendulic with little use of her left hand and arm, so she...
Tag: <span>Spine</span>
What to know about spinal gout
Spinal gout is a form of gout that affects areas of the spine. Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that can occur due to a buildup of uric acid. If the body is unable to remove excess uric acid, urate crystals can form around joints, causing pain and inflammation. In severe cases, deposits of...
ALS therapy should target brain, not just spine
by Northwestern University Credit: CC0 Public Domain The brain is indeed a target for treating ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered. This flips a long-standing belief that the disease starts in the spinal motor neurons and any therapy would need to target the spine as the key focus. A new Northwestern study...
Health anxiety tends to rise after age 50. It doesn’t have to take over your life
by Stacey Burling After she broke her neck in a car accident at age 28, Renee Tucker’s doctors told her that her newly repaired spine would never be as strong as it was before. Another accident could paralyze her. She’s not allowed to run or ride on roller coasters, but the Buckingham Township mother of...
Best way to avoid back pain? Lift heavy things
Most people think that the human spine is one of evolution’s great flaws. After all, around 80% of adults suffer from lower-back pain. What more evidence do you need? The truth is, the spine is a robust structure. We’re just using it incorrectly. Everybody “knows” that you put your back out if you lift objects...