There have been a few exciting developments in spinal cord research that were reported on over the past week, which I thought I would share.
The first story involved University of Texas researchers who have found a new way to quickly repair damaged nerves in rats that might one day help people who suffer disabling injuries. The research focuses on newly injured peripheral nerves — the ones outside the brain or spinal cord. When a peripheral nerve is severed by a deep cut or injury, the broken ends begin to close off and seal. But researchers have developed a technique to interrupt that natural healing process. By using microsurgery and readily available chemicals, including polyethylene glycol, they have been able to keep the nerve endings open and fuse them back together. Researchers are very excited and optimistic. Human trials are expected to begin within the year.
The second story discusses a company based out of Boston that has developed the technology, which minimizes tissue damage after spinal cord injury, thus improving the chances of walking again. It involves inserting a polymer-based medical device (scaffold) into the area where the spine was injured. The company is now set to begin human studies.
It is important to note that both of these studies involve work on “acute” spinal cord injuries, which are injuries less than 30 days old. However, this does not mean that there is not hope for individuals like myself who are living with a “chronic” spinal cord injury that is several months, if not years, old. It is much more difficult to treat chronic injuries, but I don’t believe anything is impossible, and remain encouraged by all of the research progress being made.
In the meantime, it is up to us living with a spinal cord injury to keep working hard to keep our bodies in the best shape possible, so that when medicine is available that will help us, our bodies will be ready to receive it. Physical therapy is one of the necessary ingredients and an integral component of a healthy lifestyle for an injured individual.
Below is a video that was taken at one of my workouts last week in which I was able to generate some muscle activation in my hip flexor and quad muscles. I was able to consistently push my leg on command. While I won’t be kicking in any doors in the near future, it is momentum which I hope to parlay into continued results.
http://vimeo.com/37349031
Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support! Stand Strong!
Scott