It is normal to want a cure for whatever conditions cause us to use wheelchairs. But it is my sincere hope that none of us waits around for a cure, and we get about the business of living LIFE. However, I also understand that hope is a good thing (so long as it is not a distraction or all-consuming). When people lose hope, they tend to do drastic things. Hopefully, this website will provide some hope for improving the lives of folks who use wheelchairs, especially if one is starting to lose hope for a satisfying and fulfilling life. Even a cure won't guarantee happiness. So it is best if we look for and find happiness within. But the possibility of cures is inspiring. I don't know how much I would pay, or what I'd be willing to do for a cure. But as you might agree, it would be substantial.
The problem is, there are unscrupulous people who are willing to play upon peoples' deep-seeded desire to walk again. They're willing to capitalize on that desire for profit. I've heard stories of slick scam artists who have taken large sums of money from wheelchair folks, on the false promise of restoring mobility through surgery, or other treatment. We need to be especially careful who we listen to, and always be sure to get second opinions from reputable professionals. Even the people who are not trying to bilk people may not be able to provide what they claim. We shouldn’t pay or agree to anything without doing our own research and investigation. Always remember that just because something is found on the Internet, it doesn't guarantee that it is reliable (including this website).
All that being said, there appear to be some emerging technologies that hold some promise for central nervous tissue regeneration. The central nervous system is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord. When spinal cord tissue is damaged (often from swelling around the cord) scar tissue forms that inhibits the passage of electrical impulses to and from the brain. It is these electrical impulses that allow the brain to tell the muscles what to do, and allows the sensory nerves to tell the brain what's happening, through the peripheral nervous system.
For years it was accepted that central nervous tissue would not grow back if damaged. Peripheral nervous systems tissue (nerves) do grow back, slowly. The use of stem-cells (both adult stem cells and embryonic stem-cells) has had encouraging results in laboratory testing. Stem-cells, a fairly recent discovery, are cells that determine what form the body's cells will take. Whether they'll be muscle, fat, organ, or central nervous systems tissue, etc.
It has long been thought that because only embryos normally grow central nervous tissue, that embryos were the most promising arena for developing new medical technology for regenerating brain and spinal cord tissue. Studies suggest, however, that embryonic stem-cells may be removed without damaging the embryos, and that adult stem-cells may offer as much, if not more, promise for regeneration of central nervous tissue.
There is also some promising progress with the use of omentum. See an article here. Excerpt:
The omentum is a highly vascular, fatty tissue approximately 14-inches long and 10-inches wide that hangs like an apron over the intestines and lower abdomen area. Although the omentum has been viewed as an inert tissue bereft of significant biological function, scientists are now discovering that it is an intriguing, physiologically dynamic tissue with a considerable body of research that supports its therapeutic potential.
There are various institutions dedicated to finding a cure for paralysis. The Miami Project (inspired by the son of Miami Dolphins’ former great, Nick Buoniconti). was a leading researcher 20 years ago. I tried to raise some money for them back then, but they weren't very responsive (maybe they discounted the ability of some quad from podunk Kansas). I haven't heard much about the Miami Project in recent years. The Christopher Reeve Foundation seems to be doing more, and in the news much more often. But maybe the Miami Project is still viable.
Here's an article about cool new technology that allows people to control a computer mouse with their thoughts, through elecrodes on the brain. One potential goal is to develop the technology to control one's limbs -- a 'work-around' by-passing the spinal cord.
There are various websites of organizations seeking to cure paralysis. And here's a good, comprehensive website chronicling SCI therapies and procedures.
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