A new research study by a Canadian researcher is learning new details about some previously unknown information about the human spinal cord, a researcher recalls. While there have been several spinal research studies over the years, what sets this study apart is that he has learned something that could improve the way in which lumbar spinal cord injuries are treated.
The researcher has stated that the spinal cord is described in physiology books as a relay system. However, according to his research, the spinal cord processes information in similar fashion as the brain. The scientist also learned that his research seeks to examine the spinal cord injury, more specifically the areas above and below the injury in order to “map” the area to determine the injuries nature and be able to measure how effective the treatment is.
His research is expected to be a guide to future spinal cord injury treatment procedures once the methods do become available. An as of yet unknown method of bridging a spinal cord injury, called bridging, is hoped to become available once research has advanced enough to learn how it can be done. The current research that is sometimes referred to as “spinal mapping” is expected to be instrumental in accurately locating the spinal cord injury that needs to be bridged.
Doctors in Nassau and Suffolk also inquired as to the methods this research was conducted, and was told that the researcher used an MRI to capture multiple images of the spinal cord. At intervals of every few seconds, other images were captured. This was repeated for several minutes, during which the researcher noted any temperature changes in the spinal cord that corresponded to the accompanying temperature sensation on the subject’s skin.
The researcher was surprised to discover that when the subject’s attention was diverted, there was a related change in spinal cord activity. This is indicative of known factors involving the effect of attention. This is noted especially when athletes have not noticed they were injured until their attention was refocused after a game, for example.
This research has many important implications for not only spinal cord injury patients, but also others who suffer from chronic pain, from conditions such as Fibromyalgia.
Have you suffered a back injury on the job and you have been ignored by your employer or your insurance company? Contact a New York Spinal Injury Attorney who knows how to navigate the often complicated worker and insurance maze that can leave those with injuries feeling worse than before.