One Step at a Time: Local Woman Walks Again After Train Accident

New Technology at Saint John's Health System's Carl D. Erskine Rehabilitation Center Helps Patients Walk Again 

ANDERSON, IN - Nearly 16 years ago, Trisha Dickson of Westfield, Ind. had her whole life ahead of her. The recent college graduate was deciding on which of her two passions in life to fulfill - acting or teaching. But, on June 10 Dickson’s life suddenly changed. The 22 year old was driving home from her last community theater performance and was hit by a train after her car stalled on the train tracks. 

“I was turning the keys, but couldn’t get it to start. I was so scared,” said Dickson. “I am lucky to be alive.”

Dickson suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) that not only left her in a coma for months, but caused her to have to re-learn how to do everything from talking to walking. Dickson also lost hearing in her left ear and suffered nerve damage to the right side of her body “It feels like pins and needles all the time,” said Dickson.  

According to the Center for Disease Control, more than 1.5 million Americans suffer from a TBI each year, with more than 20 percent of the injuries are due to motor vehicle accidents. Described as a sudden jolt or blow to the head, the severity of a TBI ranges from “mild” (concussion, short term memory loss) to severe (long term unconsciousness or amnesia, problems with independent function such as loss of hand and arm function, or fatality).  

Like most patients who lose independent function, Dickson’s battle to regain her independence was not easy. She was in a wheelchair for more than two years after the accident and was dependent on her family and friends to get around. But after more than 14 years of intermittent physical therapy, Dickson found hope in a new technology being offered at Erskine Rehabilitation Center in Anderson, a division of Saint John’s Health System.

Dickson’s Physical Therapist Kristine Miller told her about a new; FDA approved wireless rehabilitation technology called the NESS L300. Miller explained that the patient wears a lightweight brace below the knee and a transmitter in the shoe.  The device uses electrical stimulation to send signals from the brain to the muscles that control movement. The technology is being used for treatment of foot drop in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and incomplete spinal cord injury.

The L300 has three main parts that use wireless communication to “talk” to each other. The leg cuff is a small, light-weight device that fits just below the knee and contains electrodes designed to place stimulation where it helps most. The gait sensor attaches to the shoe and lets the leg cuff know if the heel is on the ground or in the air. The hand-held remote control, which can be worn around the neck, allows the patient to adjust the level of stimulation and turn the unit on and off. The NESS L300 also has a unique gait sensor that adjusts to accommodate uneven surfaces and changes in elevation to help patients walk safely and confidently, regardless of terrain.

With the help of the L300, Dickson is now walking without any assistive device for short periods of time, and at a much quicker rate. She is able to get to and from her job at the local library as well as church, rehearsals with her church choir, and other activities associated with daily independent living.  

“I was so determined to walk again and worked so hard,” said Dickson. “The L300 has given me my dream of being able to walk on my own.”