by Kim Anderson, PhD What is SeePain? Chronic pain is something that, unfortunately, many people with SCI live with.  In fact, up to 80% of people with SCI develop some kind of pain within the first year of injury.  Chronic pain is pain that lasts for at least three months, and oftentimes it lasts for...Continue Reading

MetroHealth is thrilled to announce the return of its annual Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Forum, an educational and empowering event designed specifically for individuals living with spinal cord injuries and related disorders. The 2025 SCI Forum will take place on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST. Mark your calendars and...Continue Reading

It was August 2023.  I was out late with friends, having fun.  I turned down the wrong street, and my life forever changed.  There was a crowd standing outside in the street.  I was just driving through, and they started shooting at my car – with a bullet piercing my back. I am now paralyzed...Continue Reading

The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. In previous articles, we have featured the Factsheets on Autonomic Dysreflexia, Managing Pain, Wheelchair Information, and more.  While it is...Continue Reading

Sami Ullah, MDA medical condition called autonomic dysreflexia (AD) can happen to people who have had a spinal cord injury, especially if the injury is above the T6 level. It is marked by a quick rise in blood pressure that could be dangerous and needs to be treated right away. Here are some useful tips...Continue Reading

Since joining Metrohealth’s SCI research team four months ago, a simple but common theme has emerged when using injury terminology with participants and their families: it’s complicated.  Many researchers and clinicians choose to introduce standardized medical terms to participants in hopes of helping with understanding but forget how hard it can be to deduce meaning...Continue Reading

Sustaining a spinal cord injury (SCI) causes tremendous stress – physically, mentally, and emotionally.  While acute stress (or stress that doesn’t last long) helps you function in the moment, long-term (chronic) stress can damage your body and it’s ability to function properly. Chronic stress can damage your body in three major ways: impaired digestion, adrenal...Continue Reading

By: Anvi Kshirsagar  If you have experienced a spinal cord injury, you might already have devices in your place of residence to assist with everyday tasks. Every SCI is different, and there are resources available to make life easier regardless of the type of injury. There are a plethora of devices available to assist with...Continue Reading

The Model System Knowledge and Translation Center (MSKTC) is a national center that helps facilitate the knowledge translation process to make research meaningful to those with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Burn Injury. Last newsletter, we featured the Factsheet on mental health awareness.  This month, we wanted to feature a source on adaptive...Continue Reading

written by Don Johnston Brian is married with two children and worked at a plastic factory for 30 years.  He began experiencing significant back pain and eventually numbness in his limbs and issues with his balance at 50 years old.  After trying various treatments, an MRI revealed a narrow spinal canal compressing his spinal cord....Continue Reading