What is the most promising, groundbreaking potential cure for paralysis?

The conventional wisdom has been that once someone severs or damages their spinal cord, related nerves or areas of the brain leading to paralysis or being either quadriplegic or parapalegic, that there is no cure to reverse such fully.





I know there are ways of curing, healing and fully reversing such conditions, even if not commonly or fully discovered yet. And Id love to hear what new, or old and rediscovered, methods or ways of reversing and heaing these conditions are currently the most promising!?


Anyone involved in these areas of research, especially that not manipulated or manipulated by preferences and biases of pharmaceutical companies or overly entrenched modes of thinking, who can share what seems to be the most promising directions for fully reversing and healing people who have become paralyzed through accidents, strokes or other events.?

What is the most promising, groundbreaking potential cure for paralysis?
Indeed there is a cure, we're just in the stages of finding all the pieces of the puzzle. An effective cure is going to be a combination of three things: preventing/removing the formation of scar tissue, getting the nerves to reproduce the proper connections, and rigorous physical therapy.





One of the most promising studies so far is that of Dr. Stephen Davies. ( see http://www.brainandspinalcord.org/blog/2... ) There is also some information there about Peripheral Nerve Re-Routing, which is not quite a cure, but has proven very effective in regaining function of paralyzed areas of the body due to SCI.





In terms of paralysis caused by stroke or TBI, the treatment will be dealing with the brain rather than the spinal cord. Interestingly, there are many treatments for both brain injury and spinal cord injury that are similar. For instance, Lithium, an anti-psychotic drug, has also been proven effective in preventing much secondary injury after a SCI.





I would suggest poking around on the website ( http://www.brainandspinalcord.org ) for links to all the most important goings on in the field of neurological injury. Check back often too, as we update regularly!
Reply:Stem cells





Also-some people swear by the fact that a patient can be put in an ice bath immediatley post stroke or spinal cord injury to greatly lessen the damage. Most of the time it is the swelling that causes the most long term damage.





Never underestimate the power of rehabilitation. It makes a great deal of difference to have a physical therapist that is experienced and active in a particular area of injury.


This is not magically healing the person, but effectively dealing with the reality of the injury.





A person with a C6 SCI has the potential to live independently.
Reply:Stem cell research and all it has to offer. For instance,


The men and women coming home from overseas with very hurtful injuries, this could save their lives and lives of many, many others.


Everything that you just described can be helped by stem cell research.


The pharmaceutical companies--don't get me started. They advertise and advertise. If I was a lonely person sitting at home with some sort of ache, I'd think I was dying. OH!! And don't forget the side effects!!! If I have heartburn, I could have diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, muscle cramps and (I love this one!) and/or death. Thank you very much, I'll put up with the damn heartburn.





I could go on and on, a book even, but that's the jist of it.
Reply:A person can demand that their paralysis be cured!





Source:


http://www.sheep2lion.com/
Reply:definitely stem cell research.