The Doctors – Dr. Melamed and YouTube Vlogger Steph Aiello

Please welcome Steph to the show.

You’re pretty remarkable, you know that?

Thank you, thank you so much. It’s still hard and to revisit all that. This is like my first time watching myself talk about it in front of the audience like this and stuff, and it’s overwhelming to see everyone else’s response, and it makes me feel so happy to be here, to be able to share everything.

One of the things about your story that is so compelling to me is how going through your recovery, and even the fact that you’re an occupational therapist, you know, let’s try makeup, that became part of your actual recovery, not just emotional but physical recovery.

A huge part. It definitely has. It had completely changed my function, I feel. Me being able to just sit there and try to redo things, I feel like it was a complete therapy for me, and now when I go and grab something, I feel like I’m much stronger because of it.

And I’m also glad that you’re here, because your story’s unique. You use the word quadriplegic, and how, you know, you still have some use of your arms and legs. I want to introduce board-certified spine surgeon Dr. Hooman Melamed. Talk a little bit about what’s going on medically with Steph.

Attitude is really, really everything. I think people, I was felt very inspired watching her story. And even though the injury was at C5, but I think she’s fortunate, because functionally, when you watch her, she’s actually more almost at a C7 level, which means she’s recovered two extra levels, which is unbelievable. For people to understand more, the higher the injury in the spinal cord, obviously the more damage, and…

The one thing though, and I have to say we were all watching this amazed at your ability to open makeup containers and do all these things, but it’s also led to some unique problems, is that right?

Yes, I have to constantly use my tenodesis all the time, when I’m pushing, when I’m grabbing things, when I’m trying to open up containers and stuff, so I now have carpal tunnel, which is a challenge for me, because I need my wrist. I need them to be no pain, no, you know, no tingling. I won’t be able to sleep well, and it just, it acts up at night often.

Isn’t that a common occurrence with this type of injury?

Yes, she’s doing a lot more tension on the wrist, but thank God, it’s actually a very easy problem. You normally splinting at nighttime, a little bit for a few weeks, if, or maybe even during the day, that usually can make it a lot better. But if that doesn’t, sometimes I inject steroids. Ultimately, if you require surgery, you just do an endoscopic, you know, which is like a 15-minute, like a tiny incision like that, endoscopic release, and that will solve the problem.

And you know, I know you’re, you’re dealing with so much, and you’re growing in popularity on YouTube, but addressing some of these ongoing issues…

I would be happy to see her as a patient and, and take her on, and, you know, all free of charge, of course.

Thank you!