The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 11 COVID patients today, 10 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 8 with the active virus today, 6 Friday
- 1 in ICU, 1 Friday
- 0 on a ventilator, 0 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Diana Prouty, spinal cord stimulator patient
- Diana had severe pain in her arms and shoulders. It was so severe, she could not write her name.
- She sought help from The University of Kansas Health System and Dr. Sayed tried some conservative measures at first that did not work, so he suggested a spinal cord stimulator.
- The device has completely changed her life because she does not feel the pain and at age 81, has all of the functionality she did not have before.
- “To be able to do the things I like to do and want to do to be social -- I couldn't even go out sometimes because it hurts so bad.”
- She is thankful to the staff for being so nice and helping her regain her life.
Dr. Dawood Sayed, division chief, pain medicine, The University of Kansas Health System
- This spinal cord stimulator can be fully automated, so patients won’t necessarily need the remote control.
- It takes four million measurements a day automatically on the patient, so it is constantly adjusting.
- In pain management, experts are looking for the most effective treatment for the patient that carries the least amount of risk.
- He is the co-founder of a national professional group, the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience to help educate others in the medical community about treatments like this.
Dr. Christopher Lam, interventional pain medicine specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
- We're treating neuropathic pain through using electrical signals that hinder change or impair the signals that from reaching to the brain. Different devices use different waveforms, but in essence it is using electricity to alter how pain signals are sent to the brain.
- Spinal cord stimulation has been around since the 1980s. What's special about this device is this is the first device available where you can measure how your nerves are responding to the signals that you're emitting.
- It's great that we have options now to manage these types of pains that even a decade or two ago we had no options for.
- This device touches on the fact that technology has advanced at such a pace that pain conditions which were previously untreatable can now be effectively managed.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director, infection prevention & control, The University of Kansas Health System
- Based on a news report of a rabid animal attack, it is important to have pets vaccinated for rabies.
- Some wild animals can be infected with rabies and it is important to stay away from them.
- If bitten, seek medical help immediately. If left untreated rabies from an animal bite is almost always fatal, but treatments are very successful.
Wednesday, Aug. 2 at 8 a.m. is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. Long COVID is not getting the same attention or funding as COVID itself. We’ll meet two researchers leading the push to simply define what Long COVID means, and help millions of patients in the process.
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