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I had my accident of falling from about 11 feet and suffered spinal injury, incomplete at T7, 8 years ago. I am currently using crutches, goes to work, go out with friends, etc. But until now, I am still trying to find a solution that may help me gain better balance and be able to walk again. After 8 years, do you think there is still a small possibility that I may regain the use of my legs? What about stem cell, can it help?
ols23,
I'm six years post C6-7 ASIA SCI and I've spent the past year and a half at walk the line to SCI recovery (www. walkthelinetoSCIrecovery.com) and I've gotten alot of function in my abs, obliques, and back as well as voluntary firing of my quads, calves and hamstrings.
It was because of this very hard, intense, exercised based program three hours a day three days a week that I was able to make these gains in areas that are medically impossible (ASIA A means no sensation or function below the level of injury yet I have function in areas I supposed to be paralyzed in?).
I believe the cure is going to consist of a combination of either a surgery (stem cells?) or drug therapy (decorin+others?) combined with an intense exercised based program to make those reconnections damaged during the SCI.
Best of luck in your quest for full recovery! Nobody said it was going to be easy, but it wouldn't be as meaningful if it were easy. A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
I dont doubt that stem cells will lead to medical breakthroughs. I jus cant afford to pay for the wrong treatment. For the lucky few who can pay for 2 or more treatments, why do you go back for the same thing if it didnt help the first time? If a clinic, company, etc..needed clients for an experimental treatment free of charge, thats one thing. But to pay for one that didnt heal you...and then go back? Dunno....
Right patticake430, we must never give up even if one thing doesn't work for us...there are a lot of possibilities in this world. I recall before I left my country (Philippines) to come here, I saw my doctor that was already 4 years after he operated on me. He was so happy with my progress upon seeing me, then after he checked me up, I asked him to be honest with me and tell me the possibility of full recovery, use of my legs. Then he answered, if he is going to base it on theories (medical), he would say I probably have reached my maximum recovery. But he said, who knows, there are miracles. He told me, he actually had a patient who also could not walk but after 8 years was able to do so.....Let's just keep on looking and searching and most importantly believe there is a way...
I hear the people that stem cell did not work for & I am so sorry for them. I still do believe that stem cell will eventually make everyone in wheel chairs walk. I really do. The U.S. is way behind on some medical issues. Overseas they are doing things to save peoples lives that if they were in the U.S. would have died a long time ago. Keep abreast of what the Christopher Reeve Foundation is doing, they are the cutting edge. Even if stem cell did not work for you, please don't give up hope.
Look at this website:
http://www.repairstemcells.org/SpinalCord.php
No worries graybeard, I lived in Washington state for over 20 years so I don't mind getting a little wet. LOL As I said this is experimental, and everyone needs to research and evaluate it for themselves. I felt it was worth the chance, and if this kind of research and treatment doesn't get done there never will be a cure. Unfortunately, here in the US, the progress is a bit slower, and I am fine with how that process works, we don't need the crazies running amok! I just didn't want to wait that long and after visiting the clinic and meeting people already in his program with a variety of results I decided it was worth the risk for me.
Yes, that's right that not having to cath is already a big deal...I did have a second operation coz after the first one, I still needed to cath and according to my doctor that would kill me, not my being unable to walk. I was lucky, after the 2nd operation just a few days I was able to pee w/o the catheter. My doctor was very happy. I hope the problem with your ankle, graybeard, could be resolve so that you can walk just like me but of course with the aid of crutches. With me, one problem is that my fall triggered post polio. I was a polio victim when I was still a baby. Still, I did overcome it and was able to walk normally, play basketball and my legs didn't shrink but according to doctors, a fall could really trigger a post polio thing and they still do not know why...
Not to rain on the parade, but any stem cell treatments to date havent produced a cure. I dont knock people for wanting a cure, but till I see it on the news, it dont exist. I am also T/7 inc. Ols23, you are nearly identical in gait to me. I have complications with my ankles, which prevent a decent walk. Aurora, your bladder sensation is equal to what I have. I can sense the"urge" to go, but cant hold it very long. And yes, not having to cath is a very huge deal.
Dr. Ramirez is at the International Spinal Cord Regeneration Center in Tijuana Mexico. If you look up the center on the internet it states how to contact him. I visited the center to have an evaluation to see if I met the requirements to start treatment. If your spinal cord is severed, they cannot help you. I first needed exploratory surgery to make sure my bone structure was ok and that my rods and screws were not in the way. Then I had a stem cell transplant ( he uses blue shark stem cells, which I explained in my journal entry.) I have only been able to return once more for another stem cell transplant. The cost of my surgery was approximately $47,000, and each return visit is approximately $3000 to $5000 depending on airfare and follow up medications and procedures. Because it is all experimental, nothing is covered by insurance. I was very fortunate and was able to cover the cost with fund raising and donations. The initial surgery was helpful to me in that they discovered the original bone grafting that was done right after my accident had slipped out of place and was compressing my spinal cord again. They were able to repair that damage. And with the 2 stem cell transplants I recieved, I recovered feeling farther down on my abdomen and back, and am able to feel when my bladder is filling, and I don't have to cath which is a major accomplishment for most of us with spinal cord injuries. As soon as it is financially possible for me to return, I will do so, but I am a single mom raising 3 school age children, and their needs come first.
Once again, this is experimental treatment, and everyone needs to evaluate the cost and risk for themselves. Start by contacting the center, and do your own research.
HI ols23,hi Aurora58
I DON'T SPEAK GOOD ENGLISH,SO I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND MUCH ABOUT DR.RAMIREZ.CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT'S HIS PROCEDURE,WHERE WE FIND HIM AND HOW MUCH COSTS THE CURE?
THANK YOU
Hi Aurora58,
Thank you so much, I did find your journal. I read every sentence you wrote. I am interested and will try to contact Dr. Ramirez. But for sure, the current cost would be way up now...I don't know how I can manage but no harm in trying. I just would like to find out what he would say about my case. I also had compression fracture in T-7. I also have a metal (Harrington rod) placed inside my back and my doctor said it is for life. If ever I got in touch with the facility, I shall update you too.
ols23
Ols23, I posted a journal entry several months ago regarding stem cell treatment, it is titled
ISCRC Stem Cell Treatment. You have to go through a few pages of journal entries to find it, but it is there. If there is a way to send that entry to you, let me know and I will do it. Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks Luminita. But this should not stop us from trying to find a cure....to make it better for us.
HI
I AM QUAD SINCE 2003.I HAD A STEM CELL IMPLANT ONE YEAR AGO.......I AM SO SORRY TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NO CHANGE.I HOPE SOON WILL FIND A REAL CURE FOR US.
WISH YOU THE BEST
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