Autonomic dysreflexia
\An uncontrolled reflex of the "autonomic" \ (involuntary) nervous system that can occur in people with a spinal \ cord injury above the 6th thoracic vertebra. Symptoms can include \ severe headache, abrupt rise in blood pressure, changes in heart \ rate, and perspiring and reddened skin above the level of the injury \ while there is paleness and goose bumps below the level. Autonomic \ dysreflexia is usually caused by an internal irritation, such as a \ full bladder. If not relieved, dysreflexia can be dangerous, as it \ can result in constriction of blood vessels, damage to the retinas or \ even a stroke.
\Bony prominence
\A part of the body where a bone naturally raises \ and is easily felt beneath the surface of the skin, such as the knee, \ heel, hip bone, tail bone, sacrum, elbow, back of the head, etc.
\Cellulitis
\Intense inflammation, usually in a peripheral \ area of the body such as the lower limbs, caused by an infection; \ symptoms include redness, swelling, tenderness, pain, and warmth of \ the area to the touch.
\Debridement
\A medical procedure to remove tissue that is \ damaged or dead on the surface until healthy tissue underneath is \ exposed.
\Decubitus ulcer
\A medical term for a pressure ulcer.
\Executor of a will
\The person named in a will who has the legal \ responsibility of making sure that the terms of the will are carried \ out. A female executor is sometimes called an "executrix."
\Gangrene
\A condition of dead tissue caused by a blood \ circulation problem, either because of blood loss, decreased blood \ flow or an obstruction.
\Guillain-Barr\351 syndrome
\An acute virus that attacks the nervous system, \ creating progressive weakness in the muscles of the limbs; most \ people recover completely from it after a few weeks or months.
\Heterotopic ossification (HO)
\The formation of bone in soft tissue, such as \ joints like the shoulder, elbow, hip or knee.
\Ischemia
\An inadequate flow of blood to a part of the body, \ caused by blockage or constriction of a blood vessel.
\Tetraplegia
\The formal term used by the American Spinal \ Injury Association (ASIA) to refer to lost or limited function of all \ four limbs, especially as the result of an injury or damage to the \ spinal cord in the cervical, or neck, area.
\Transverse Myelitis
\A neurological disorder caused by inflammation \ across both sides of one level, or segment, of the spinal cord. The \ segment of the spinal cord at which the damage occurs determines \ which parts of the body are affected. Damage at one segment will \ affect function at that segment and segments below it.
\Urinary tract infection (UTI)
\An infection somewhere in the urine-producing \ system, usually caused by bacteria formed in urine that has remained \ in the system too long. People with spinal cord injuries are \ susceptible to UTIs because they sometimes have difficulty urinating \ completely, or their bladders can sometimes get overly full if not \ emptied regularly. Symptoms include fever, chills, increased \ spasticity or urine that is cloudy, smelly or has particles in \ it.
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