Just as spinal injuries vary in type and severity, treatment options span the full spectrum from non-invasive management to open surgical procedures.  If you suffer from a neck or back injury, your doctor can explain your options to you; here are a few of the more common alternatives:

 Pain Medication

Pain medication is often the first treatment option due to its availability and ease of administration.  Medication is used for acute pain in the immediate aftermath of an injury, as well as for chronic pain management.  There are dozens of options, from common over-the-counter painkillers to potent prescription-only controlled substances, and each works a little differently.  Unfortunately, many painkillers can be habit-forming and carry serious risks with long-term use.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is another common intervention for many spinal injury patients.  The purpose of physical therapy is to evaluate the extent of an injury and to decrease pain and limitation by strengthening the body and encouraging movement.  Physical therapy can be a difficult and discouraging experience for many patients, however, sometimes causing a fair amount of pain before any benefits are realized.

TENS/EMS Units

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, or TENS, is a treatment in which electrical impulses are applied to nerves exiting the spinal column.  Similarly, electrical muscle stimulators (EMS) are used to apply impulses to muscles in the back and neck.  It is thought that these impulses disrupt certain chemical and neurological pathways that cause pain and swelling, thereby promoting relief and healing.

Surgery

Back surgery (or neck surgery) is often a last resort after more conservative methods have failed, and not all patients are candidates for surgery.  In addition to ordinary surgical risks, like an adverse reaction to anesthesia, blood loss, or infection, spinal surgery carries the risk of causing more damage to the spinal cord or major nerves.  Surgical options can range from minimally invasive to full open procedures, and include discectomy, fusion, and/or decompression.  In some cases, a spinal cord stimulator may be implanted in an attempt to block pain signals from the spinal cord.

All in all, there are many alternatives for chronic pain caused by a spinal injury.  Patients, with the guidance of their doctors, need to consider the risks and benefits of each option.

The attorneys at ChurchWyble will help bring the message to local schools in the coming months.  The coordinated program will be geared to End Distracted Driving, and will incorporate materials being developed for use around the country.  The End Distracted Driving (EndDD) initiative has already been enormously successful in Texas and Pennsylvania and is receiving the support of several national organizations.  The program will build up to National Distracted Driving Month – April 2012.

ChurchWyble, P.C., is eager to help make our roads safer.  If you are interested in the EndDD program, don’t hesitate to contact us.

• Slow down when you see or suspect ice or snow.
• Bridges and underpasses can be icy, even when the road around them is dry.
• Avoid sudden stops, turns, or lane changes.
• Road salt is less effective between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and completely ineffective below 10 degrees.
• When slush appears stiff and is thrown directly behind the vehicle (rather than splashed to the side), icy conditions are likely to develop.

You should also have your car checked and winterized by a qualified mechanic, and always have plenty of gas in the tank before heading out. 

By keeping these few points in mind, you can help keep our roadways safe for everyone.

Hot Coffee is a powerful, must-see documentary about the real toll of “tort reform.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-t_AeXKLNM

The film premiered June 27 on HBO, and will be playing throughout the week. It will be on HBO2 at 8 p.m. on June 29, and again on HBO at 1:30 p.m. on June 30. Check your local listings for additional dates and times.

A 60-year-old Grand Ledge drowned while fishing in the Grand River near Moores Park. Earlier this month a 28-year-old kayaker disappeared on the Grand River in Delhi Township. There was also the drowning death of a 14-year-old boy in a Holt public beach with no lifeguard on duty. Sadly, I wrote about the dangers of not having a lifeguard on duty at public beaches when it became apparent local municipalities would try to plug budget holes by risking public safety. In the beginning of the month, a 2-year-old boy was hospitalized when he was found not breathing in a wading pool.

Officials believe the Grand River is demonstrating stronger river currents and higher water levels due to all the rain in the past months. Local fishermen also concurred with that opinion.

East Lansing fire marshall and water safety expert, Bob Pratt, said that many people overestimate their swimming ability and don’t use life jackets. Nevertheless, he felt most of these drowning deaths could be avoided. Many local governments, including the city of Lansing, offer swimming classes available to the public.

Being able to detect someone who is drowning may not be as easy as you’d think. TV and movies have instilled in our consciousness the image of someone thrashing in the water for survival. Pratt, however, indicated that most people who are truly drowning can’t lift their arms above water without their head sinking under water and most don’t have enough air to yell.

Someone who is drowning may only be able to stay above water 15 to 45 seconds. What you should do if you see someone who is drowning is to try and get them something that floats, like a styrofoam cooler, a plastic cooler, or a buoy. Make sure you or someone calls 911 for help.

State-level, needs-based programs will be following Medicare’s lead. As of July 1, 2011, Medicaid will no longer pay for “Never Events.” The goal of the new rule is to discourage hospitals and doctors from making preventable errors. And while this financial disincentive will hopefully lead to increased patient safety, the alarming human toll of medical malpractice should also be a motivating factor.

According to the Oregon Patient Safety Commission, 34 patients died last year as a result of preventable medical errors. That number represents 25% of the 136 total reported preventable errors. The State of Michigan, recognizing the serious harm caused by “Never Events,” recently launched a new website dedicated to patient safety and reporting health care provider errors.

Medical malpractice comes with an enormous monetary and physical cost. Simple, careless errors that result in catastrophic injuries to innocent patients should be stopped.

The innovative “Yellow Dot” program is aimed at correcting this problem. Because the first 60 minutes after an injury are so important, individualized health information can mean the difference between life and death. This so-called “Golden Hour” is especially important in remote areas where definitive care can be quite some distance away. And as the American population continues to age, underlying medical conditions and prescription medications are becoming more and more common among accident victims.

Participants in the Yellow Dot program are supplied with a yellow sticker and a corresponding yellow folder. The sticker is placed in a conspicuous and consistent place, usually the rear window on the driver’s side in most participating counties. When a first responder spots the sticker, he or she knows to check the glove compartment for a yellow envelope or folder. The folder contains personalized medical information and allows medical personnel to quickly identify their patient. Armed with this background, responders can better tailor their treatment and call ahead to the receiving hospital to better prepare the staff.

While the Yellow Dot program has not caught on everywhere yet, the program is expanding. It is a very simple and cost-effective approach to caring for accident victims who may not be able to fully communicate their medical histories. In an emergency, accurate and complete medical information can save time and save lives.

An estimated 37 million drivers would fail a driving test if they had to take one today, according to a recent survey. This shocking number raises serious safety concerns. And it’s not obscure rules that are tripping up the respondents, it’s basic, everyday scenarios such as how to react to a yellow light. Not surprisingly, young drivers scored the lowest. Even so, all drivers young and old would benefit from reacquainting themselves with what every driver must know.

Try not to let these statistics ruin your plans. Just use caution if you’re traveling on the road. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Of the award, thought to be the largest in Connecticut state history, $8 million is for future medical expenses. The remainder represents the jurors’ determination of what the D’Attilos deserve for the sort of injuries that don’t come with a price tag: pain, suffering, emotional and physical trauma, and so on. Clearly, the group of ordinary men and women forming the jury felt this was reasonable and just compensation for a child who now faces a lifetime of total dependency, physical limitation, and seizures.

If this very same case had been tried in Michigan, a jury may well have reached the same conclusion. However, due to the draconian damages caps in this state, the judge would be compelled by law to reduce the noneconomic damages award to $734,500. For the vast majority of injuries resulting from medical negligence, the cap amount is $411,300. No matter what the jury decides, this anti-victim, pro-insurance law deprives families of receiving the full measure of justice. Other states have ruled damages caps unconstitutional, and several studies have shown that caps do not save the health care system any money.

It is time to put an end to these arbitrary and unfair caps. Injured patients and their families deserve to have a jury decide the extent of their damages.