Shepherd Center Radio

Chronic pain is in an extremely complex and poorly understood medical problem that can have profound effects on one’s physical and mental wellbeing. Uncontrolled pain impacts all aspects of daily activities. But how do you when it's time to see a pain specialist? Dr. James Liadis, physiatrist in the Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute at Shepherd Center, explains in this podcast.

Diving is the fourth leading cause of spinal cord injury for men, and the fifth for women, according to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center. A single dive can result in a life-altering injury. Diving injuries take place in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, creeks, swimming holes and any water environment. In this podcast, Emma Harrington, Shepherd Center’s Director of Injury Prevention Education, discusses how and where diving injuries occur, and how to prevent them.

Each year more than 100 adolescents, ages 12 to 21, come to Shepherd Center from all over the country. They or their families choose Shepherd for its specialized treatment teams, age-appropriate therapy and expertise in treating teens and young adults with spinal cord injuries. The adolescent rehabilitation program follows Shepherd Center's philosophy of returning patients to the highest possible level of functioning and independence, while addressing adolescents' needs for autonomy, privacy and control. Cheryl Linden discusses the Adolescent Rehabilitation Programs available at Shepherd Center.

Ian Flannery discusses the MS Wellness program at Shepherd Center. He explains the different approaches of care, and how the  program empowers patients to stay active and decrease the effects of deconditioning that can result from MS.

Cecilia Rider the Associate Manager of the Recreation Therapist Department at Shepherd Center shares why recreation is imperative for someone with a disability, the many benefits associated with recreational activity, and how to find workshops and events in your community.

Shepherd Center's Assistive Technology Center works with technologies like smart phones, tablets and voice-activated devices to provide assistance and support to people living with disabilities. Shepherd Center occupational therapists evaluate each user's lifestyle requirements and functional abilities, then provide custom modifications to hardware, software, electronics and other appliances so that users can live safely and function productively. Adina Bradshaw, a speech pathologist at Shepherd Center, discusses how Shepherd Center uses adaptive technology to fit the patients' needs.

Animal assisted therapy can play an important part in the rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury. Shepherd Center "employs" multiple therapy dogs who bring joy to patients and also help with therapeutic exercises. In addition, they assist with tasks such as opening doors and switching lights on and off. Shepherd Center exercise physiologist Mary Ashlyn Thiede discusses the role of therapy dogs and the benefits of animal assisted therapy.

At Shepherd Spine and Pain Institute, doctors offer a variety of treatments and comprehensive care for chronic back pain, one of the most common types of pain that people experience. In today’s podcast, Dr. Erik Shaw, an interventional pain management specialist at Shepherd Spine and Pain Institute, addresses the causes of back pain and how to know when your pain has become a chronic problem requiring medical attention. Dr. Shaw also explains the variety of treatment options available for chronic back pain.

The CRU was designed for patients who are admitted with conditions that occurred post-injury or disease and offers treatment to stabilize these conditions and help secure better health. Wes Chay, MD, discusses The Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit at Shepherd Center, and how it provides additional levels of care to help secure better future health.

Progressive forms of MS are characterized by a sustained build-up of symptoms with an insidious increase in disability. With Primary Progressive MS (PPMS) in particular, disability accumulates twice as fast as in those with Relapsing MS (RMS). This means that people with PPMS experience more problems with walking, more difficulty remaining in the workforce, and require more assistance with everyday activities.Ben Thrower, MD and the medical director of the MS Institute at Shepherd Center, discusses maintaining a healthy lifestyle with progressive MS.

Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries caused by a sudden jolt or blow to the head and typically resolve within a week or two. In typical concussions, headaches and other symptoms subside, and patients feel as capable as they did before their injury. Russell Gore, MD, director of Shepherd Center’s Complex Concussion Clinic, will discuss sports related concussions and the rehabilitation process.

In today’s podcast Rebecca Washburn, MS, discusses the importance of fitness after injury and the ways Shepherd Center’s facilities and programs promote healthy living for people with disabilities.

Patients with catastrophic injury face a higher severity of illness requiring complex medical management. As medical complexity evolves in the course of rehabilitation, Shepherd Center assures access to specialized medical needs. A team of experts including physiatrists, internal medicine/pulmonology intensivists and specialized clinicians collaboratively manage the most medically complex, traumatic patient care needs. In today’s podcast, Shepherd Center chief medical officer Michael Yochelson, M.D., MBA, discusses complex rehabilitation care and efforts to minimize conditions that could result in setbacks for patients.

Shepherd Center provides assistance from vocational rehabilitation case managers after rehabilitation for a spinal cord or brain injury. They assist clients in returning to their previous jobs, pursuing new employment options or preparing them for employment in the future. Case managers make recommendations and help implement workplace accommodations to support the client’s independence and autonomy. Additionally, case managers educate employers and help manage clients’ disability benefits whether it’s through Social Security or their own long term disability plans.In today’s broadcast, Shepherd vocational specialist and peer support liaison Zachary Bradley discusses workplace accessibility for people with disabilities.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant often used by patients as an oil to manage the symptoms of chronic conditions. In today’s podcast, Ben Thrower, M.D., the medical director of the Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center, will discuss the use of CBD products in managing the symptoms of MS.

Shepherd Center sponsors 11 sports teams that enable individuals with physical disabilities to participate in sports on a recreational or competitive level. Athletes compete in local and regional competitions, as well as at the national and international levels. Regular practice sessions offer expert instruction, as well as camaraderie and peer support. In today’s podcast, sport teams coordinator Matt Edens discusses the program and how it raises awareness about disabilities and increases participation in adapted sports.

In partnership with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, Shepherd Center has created AutoCoach, an app that teaches parents how to effectively and safely teach their teen to drive. AutoCoach aims to improve parental supervisory behaviors and involvement through quizzes, distraction notifications, driving logs and a ten-chapter curriculum based on best practices. In today’s podcast, Shepherd Center director of injury prevention Emma Harrington discusses how the app aims to combat motor vehicle crashes and promote injury prevention. The app will be available as a free download in the Apple and Google Play app stores in summer 2017.

Caring for a person with a neurodegenerative disease can be extremely challenging. Beyond the potential physical exhaustion caregivers may experience, they also may experience emotional and psychological changes when having to take care of someone else, and it is a potential problem that needs to be addressed. In this podcast, Deborah Backus, director of multiple sclerosis research at Shepherd Center and co-author of the paper “Coping With Caregiver Burnout When Caring for a Person With Neurodegenerative Disease: A Guide for Caregivers,” discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing the impact of caregiving.

People with spinal cord injuries and their families often feel anxious about returning home after rehabilitation and dealing with the many challenges related to living with such injuries. Patients with SCI who receive more intensive peer mentorship have more active engagement in rehabilitation, greater self-efficacy and lower hospital readmissions.In this segment of Shepherd Center Radio, Minna Hong, the Spinal Cord Injury Peer Support Program supervisor at Shepherd Center, discusses the value of peer support and the importance of peer-led self-care education classes after injury.

Today, Shepherd Center access case manager Dorea Fowler discusses treatments for people with spinal cord injury in the first 72 hours after injury. This podcast describes the way spinal cord injury affects the body, including the levels of injury and muscles that coordinate with those injuries, and how people with spinal cord injury differ from other patients in an intensive care unit.