Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
Update Date: 2009/10/15 17:31
By Lin Yi-hsiu, Taiwan Awakening News Reporter Lin Yi-hsiu
The spinal cord can also suffer a stroke! A 37-year-old man suddenly experienced severe back pain and numbness in both arms a few days after enjoying a Thai massage. Emergency medical treatment revealed that he had a rare "spinal cord stroke," with fewer than 50 cases reported worldwide. After undergoing intubation treatment in the intensive care unit, he has since recovered and was discharged with the support of family and friends.
Dr. Cheng Mei-yun, a neurologist at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital who treated the patient, stated that the man was in excellent health with no history of chronic illnesses. Before the onset of symptoms, he had been on a five-day business trip to Thailand, where he enjoyed a Thai massage. Unexpectedly, symptoms appeared the evening after his return. An MRI scan confirmed he had suffered a "spinal cord stroke."
Could the sudden stroke in this otherwise healthy 37-year-old man be related to the Thai massage? Dr. Cheng noted that the MRI revealed a fracture in his cervical spine, which may have been caused during the massage. "Additionally, the patient later made a significant neck movement, compressing a blood vessel and triggering the spinal cord stroke," she explained.
Since introducing MRI technology in 1993, Linkou Chang Gung has treated 20 spinal cord stroke patients over 15 years. Dr. Cheng pointed out that the average age of spinal cord stroke patients is slightly lower than that of cerebral stroke patients, typically around 56 years old, and often occurs in individuals with hypertension or arteriosclerosis. "This 37-year-old man, being young and without any medical history, is a rare exception among spinal cord stroke cases," she said.
The key difference between spinal cord strokes and cerebral strokes, aside from the younger age of onset, is that spinal cord strokes affect both sides of the body. "Cerebral strokes usually manifest on either the left or right side of the body, but the spinal cord has only one main blood vessel, unlike other nerves which have two," Dr. Cheng explained.
However, Dr. Cheng also warned that the younger the age at which a spinal cord stroke occurs, the more severe the symptoms tend to be, and recovery is often less favorable. To prevent spinal cord strokes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential, including regular exercise and a diet low in oil and salt. Additionally, individuals over 45 or those with a family history of cardiovascular disease should undergo regular vascular and neurological health check-ups.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 091015/ 115/ 1t1pu. html
37-Year-Old Man Suffers Spinal Stroke after Thai Massage
By Lin Yi-hsiu, Taiwan Awakening News Reporter Lin Yi-hsiu
The spinal cord can also suffer a stroke! A 37-year-old man suddenly experienced severe back pain and numbness in both arms a few days after enjoying a Thai massage. Emergency medical treatment revealed that he had a rare "spinal cord stroke," with fewer than 50 cases reported worldwide. After undergoing intubation treatment in the intensive care unit, he has since recovered and was discharged with the support of family and friends.
Dr. Cheng Mei-yun, a neurologist at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital who treated the patient, stated that the man was in excellent health with no history of chronic illnesses. Before the onset of symptoms, he had been on a five-day business trip to Thailand, where he enjoyed a Thai massage. Unexpectedly, symptoms appeared the evening after his return. An MRI scan confirmed he had suffered a "spinal cord stroke."
Could the sudden stroke in this otherwise healthy 37-year-old man be related to the Thai massage? Dr. Cheng noted that the MRI revealed a fracture in his cervical spine, which may have been caused during the massage. "Additionally, the patient later made a significant neck movement, compressing a blood vessel and triggering the spinal cord stroke," she explained.
Since introducing MRI technology in 1993, Linkou Chang Gung has treated 20 spinal cord stroke patients over 15 years. Dr. Cheng pointed out that the average age of spinal cord stroke patients is slightly lower than that of cerebral stroke patients, typically around 56 years old, and often occurs in individuals with hypertension or arteriosclerosis. "This 37-year-old man, being young and without any medical history, is a rare exception among spinal cord stroke cases," she said.
The key difference between spinal cord strokes and cerebral strokes, aside from the younger age of onset, is that spinal cord strokes affect both sides of the body. "Cerebral strokes usually manifest on either the left or right side of the body, but the spinal cord has only one main blood vessel, unlike other nerves which have two," Dr. Cheng explained.
However, Dr. Cheng also warned that the younger the age at which a spinal cord stroke occurs, the more severe the symptoms tend to be, and recovery is often less favorable. To prevent spinal cord strokes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential, including regular exercise and a diet low in oil and salt. Additionally, individuals over 45 or those with a family history of cardiovascular disease should undergo regular vascular and neurological health check-ups.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 091015/ 115/ 1t1pu. html