In partnership with the United Spinal Association Northeast Ohio Chapter, the MetroHealth System will be hosting the Spinal Cord Injury Forum on Saturday, September 23, 2023. The conference will be held in a NEW Glick Center Conference Room at the MetroHealth Main Campus. This educational conference is projected to attract 80-90 attendees and a consortium...Continue Reading

By Dan Nwosu and Megan Hammond “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato I want you to take a moment and imagine listening to your favorite songs from your childhood/teenage years. How does it make you feel? Can you hear your heart...Continue Reading

Spring weather is here in Northeast Ohio, and as we start to wake after our “hibernation,” the conversation turns to what can we do.  Living with a disability can provide enough struggles, but then we are faced with the questions surrounding accessibility in enjoying basic, everyday  hobbies.  What hobbies CAN we do? What’s available? What’s...Continue Reading

by Dr. Kim Anderson In spinal cord injury, or SCI, nerves that communicate between the brain and body are damaged.  In addition to weakness and numbness, other functions, including the digestive track, are often impacted.  For people living with SCI, bowel control and dysfunction are among their biggest perceived challenges.  Constipation and incontinence (accidents) are...Continue Reading

I’m Kewin King. 43 years of age. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I suffered a T-12 Spinal Cord Injury 10 years ago. My life has been different but I will say somewhat interesting. In the beginning, I was wondering to myself “How am I going to live with this?” I wanted to give up...Continue Reading

After Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) most people suffer from neurogenic bladder dysfunction. Effects of this condition may be diverse but can result in frequent urination, incontinence, incomplete bladder emptying, and/or catheter dependence. However long-term changes from neurogenic bladder can result in recurrent urinary tract infections, kidney stones, renal injury (kidney damage), and more.  Urodynamic studies...Continue Reading

At 25 years old, Cleveland native Autumn Nalls had to relearn how to take care of herself following a spinal cord injury (SCI) about 5 years ago.  Before her SCI, she was a  motivational speaker about sexual health and wellness for high school students.  After moving to California for a year, she came back to...Continue Reading

By James Wilson, DO Driving is an important aspect of independence in 21st century America’s society. However, for many people with functional impairments, this ability is lost.  The result is increased dependence on the caregivers and government programs, isolation or unsafe driving behaviors. To meet this need, the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute has a long-standing program...Continue Reading

Written by: Dan Nwosu When the unexpected happens and life as one knows it is thrown for a loop, what do we do? Who do we become? What is left of our old self? Those are some of the thoughts that have run through the minds of many that have sustained spinal cord injuries. However,...Continue Reading

Written by: Dr. Kim Anderson As part of the MetroHealth Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Model Systems program, we are participating in a multi-center collaborative study being led by the Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, California.  This study is about bowel function, which we know is very important to many people living with...Continue Reading