Welcome to the Acute SCI Forum

[Wise Young]

Spinal cord injury is one of the most devastating events that can befall a person. When it happens, family and friends often go to the internet for information and encounter a bewildering array of complex information and advice, some old and out-of-date. The CareCure Community is uniquely equipped to provide information concerning acute spinal cord injury because over 70% of the members of this community have gone through the process, understand what is involved, and can offer in depth advice and insights. This forum is intended for people, families, and friends who have had a recent spinal cord injury. Please ask questions and we will try to answer your questions as best as we can.

I just posted an article concerning what to ask and answers to frequently asked questions on http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewir...I/AcuteSCI.htm on the main carecure community site. Please look there for more detailed information about acute spinal cord injury.

Unlike other forums on this web site, this forum allows people to read and post without registration. This is because the registration process may be too slow and people may want to ask questions immediately. In the next day or so, various articles will be posted here and on the main http://carecure.rutgers.edu/spinewire/ site that will provide links both to this site and related site, summarizing answers to frequently asked questions.

Our hearts are with families and friends who have spinal cord injury.

Wise.

[This message was edited by Wise Young on 02-27-03 at 23:01.]

[Chris Chappell]

Another great service of CC.

This should be of great use to many.

[Linda]

Nice Dr. Young. Very nice.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Does this mean we are not going to get cured anytime soon Dr. Young? [img]/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Great idea Dr. Young. This site has always been especially good for new injuries and this new Forum makes it that much better.

"Life is about how you
respond to not only the
challenges you're dealt but
the challenges you seek...If
you have no goals, no
mountains to climb, your
soul dies".~Liz Fordred

[krajaxa]

Great Idea, Dr. Young!!!

[SlomoScott]

just my 2 cents...
great idea, but will newly injured persons or their families know that "acute" means "recently" injured?
Maybe, maybe not. Try to remember that most people don't have a science/medical background.

[KLD]

Good point, SlomoScott.

Dr. Young, how about this title?

"New (Acute) Spinal Cord Injuries"

Also, I don't think we have really defined what should go here and what under the Care forum. An example might be the current thread in the Care forum about vent weaning.

[Curt Leatherbee]

The other thing that comes to mind, is what is the defination of Acute? 1yr, 2yr?

"Life is about how you
respond to not only the
challenges you're dealt but
the challenges you seek...If
you have no goals, no
mountains to climb, your
soul dies".~Liz Fordred

[mazey]

What a great idea! And yes, I think those first few weeks, months and year are so devastating this will be very helpful. Some of our topics are too complicated and chronic for someone coming for the first times. Linda

[rye1945]

I wish I had discovered this forum at the time of my injury instead of 4 years after! Everyone has been a great source of information and community. A recently injured person, his/her family and friends will be served well by the new addition and the forum in general.

[mikemccarey]

Does anyone know what level Pat Rummerfied's injury was at and whether it was complete or incomplete?

[Chris Chappell]

cousinmike, excuse my ignorance but who's Pat Rummerfield?

If you can provide us with a little more info maybe we can help answer your question.

[mikemccarey]

Pat Rummerfield is the first spinal cord injury quadrapelegic to fully recover:

http://rx.magazine.tripod.com/rl_20001018.htm

http://www.patrummerfield.com/

The article mentions he was injured in the c3 c4 and c5 region, but it doesn't go into details as to whether it was complete or in complete, whether he had any sensation below the neck right after the accident or if he only began to feel things after rehab weeks to months later. He now works with Dr John McDonald at the University of Washington in St. Louis.

My cousin was recently injured in a wrestling match in NJ, an account of it can be found in the news section of the forums posted by seneca I believe.

Any info anyone can tell me would be appreciated.

[Curt Leatherbee]

Interesting Story about Patrick Rummerfield. Not sure if I agree with what Dr. Macdonald says about trying harder and getting function back, nobody tried harder than me and I got nothing back.

It is interesting though the theory about two injuries of the spinal cord creating regeneration. If this prove true, who knows, maybe someday they will be creating secondary injuries in new injuries to produce recovery. It would be an interesting study.

"Life is about how you
respond to not only the
challenges you're dealt but
the challenges you seek...If
you have no goals, no
mountains to climb, your
soul dies".~Liz Fordred

[Wise Young]

CousinMike, I assume that you are referring to Carl Riccio. If so, I have spoken to the family. They are one of the reasons why I felt the need to put up this forum and why I posted the article. Wise.