Spinal injury regeneration hope

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2008-02-17 07:56am

BBC wrote:Scientists believe they are close to a significant breakthrough in the treatment of spinal injuries.

The University of Cambridge team is developing a treatment which could potentially allow damaged nerve fibres to regenerate within the spinal cord.

It may also encourage the remaining undamaged nerve fibres to work more effectively.

Spinal injuries are difficult to treat because the body cannot repair damage to the brain or spinal cord.

Although it is possible for nerves to regenerate, they are blocked by the scar tissue that forms at the site of the spinal injury.

The Cambridge team has identified a bacteria enzyme called chondroitinase which is capable of digesting molecules within scar tissue to allow some nerve fibres to regrow.

The enzyme also promotes nerve plasticity, which potentially means that remaining undamaged nerve fibres have an increased likelihood of making new connections that could bypass the area of damage.

Boosts rehabilitation

In preliminary tests, the researchers have shown that combining chondroitinase with rehabilitation produces better results than using either technique alone.

However, trials have yet to begin in patients.

Lead researcher Professor James Fawcett said: "It is rare to find that a spinal cord is completely severed, generally there are still some nerve fibres that are undamaged.

"Chondroitinase offers us hope in two ways; firstly it allows some nerve fibres to regenerate and secondly it enables other nerves to take on the role of those fibres that cannot be repaired.

"Along with rehabilitation we are very hopeful that at last we may be able to offer paralysed patients a treatment to improve their condition."

'Ground-breaking'

Dr Yolande Harley, of the charity Action Medical Research which funded the work, said: "This is incredibly exciting, ground-breaking work, which will give new hope to people with recent spinal injuries."

Paul Smith, of the Spinal Injuries Association, said medical advances meant that spinal injuries had ceased to be the terminal conditions that they often once were, but they still had a huge impact on quality of life.

However, he warned against raising expectation before the treatment was fully tested on patients.

He said: "What often happens in a clinical setting is that you don't get to see the results you would have liked."

In the UK there are more than 40,000 people suffering from injuries to their spine, which can take the form of anything from loss of sensation to full paralysis.

The average age at the time of injury is just 19.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 09:00am

Oh, wonderful - a treatment that could potentially help my Other Half that, even if it was available right now, he wouldn't have access to because we lack health insurance.

Singular Intellect · Post by **Singular Intellect** » 2008-02-17 12:28pm

Broomstick wrote:Oh, wonderful - a treatment that could potentially help my Other Half that, even if it was available right now, he wouldn't have access to because we lack health insurance.

Just because this breakthrough won't help you personally at this very moment is no reason to not acknowledge it will help many others.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-02-17 12:30pm

Bubble Boy wrote: Just because this breakthrough won't help you personally at this very moment is no reason to not acknowledge it will help many others.

As long as they have the money for it.

Singular Intellect · Post by **Singular Intellect** » 2008-02-17 12:36pm

General Zod wrote:
Bubble Boy wrote: Just because this breakthrough won't help you personally at this very moment is no reason to not acknowledge it will help many others.
As long as they have the money for it.

Yes, everyone knows nothing is free in this world, what's your point?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2008-02-17 12:58pm

Bubble Boy wrote: Yes, everyone knows nothing is free in this world, what's your point?

That you missed Broomstick's point entirely? Nobody's denying it's a great treatment. But it's not very useful if it's only available to the 1% wealthiest in the nation.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 01:36pm

Bubble Boy wrote:
Broomstick wrote:Oh, wonderful - a treatment that could potentially help my Other Half that, even if it was available right now, he wouldn't have access to because we lack health insurance.
Just because this breakthrough won't help you personally at this very moment is no reason to not acknowledge it will help many others.

You do not understand. If we do not obtain health insurance it will NEVER be available to us. Even if we did obtain health insurance, the ability to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions means he would have to wait years to get this, all the while living in constant chronic pain. Depending on circumstances, even with insurance he may, effectively, never be able to obtain this, all the while living in constant, chronic pain.

How am I supposed to be happy that others are helped when the one I love is living in constant, chronic pain and we have no chance of obtaining relief in the foreseeable future? I don't even care if it doesn't restore function, I just want him to stop hurting so damn much.

Singular Intellect · Post by **Singular Intellect** » 2008-02-17 02:11pm

General Zod wrote:
Bubble Boy wrote: Yes, everyone knows nothing is free in this world, what's your point?
That you missed Broomstick's point entirely? Nobody's denying it's a great treatment. But it's not very useful if it's only available to the 1% wealthiest in the nation.

From what I've seen, most new technologies and treatments start out that way. That's simple economics.

Broomstick wrote:You do not understand. If we do not obtain health insurance it will NEVER be available to us. Even if we did obtain health insurance, the ability to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions means he would have to wait years to get this, all the while living in constant chronic pain. Depending on circumstances, even with insurance he may, effectively, never be able to obtain this, all the while living in constant, chronic pain.

How am I supposed to be happy that others are helped when the one I love is living in constant, chronic pain and we have no chance of obtaining relief in the foreseeable future? I don't even care if it doesn't restore function, I just want him to stop hurting so damn much.

While I sympathize with your situation (particularily given you're stuck with the shitty US health care system), this doesn't stop me appreciating the fact this will help people, even if it's impractical to help all of them.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 03:41pm

Bubble Boy wrote:While I sympathize with your situation (particularily given you're stuck with the shitty US health care system), this doesn't stop me appreciating the fact this will help people, even if it's impractical to help all of them.

Fine. You be happy for them. Me, if the only things that stands between my loved ones and medical help is our fucking shitty health care "system" I will be pissed as hell.

Justforfun000 · Post by **Justforfun000** » 2008-02-17 06:44pm

The example Broomstick just gave makes me even more convinced that the only moral road to go here is free health care for all. Thank God I live in Canada. I may never get everything I want, but at least I'll get treatment to save my life and make me comfortable for all the days of my life. You can't put a price on that.

Post by **Broomstick** » 2008-02-17 07:02pm

Not FREE healthcare - NO ONE gets FREE healthcare... you pay for it via your taxes.

What's need is universal coverage - no one denied because of lack of income or "pre-existing condition". What a load of horseshit! Is there anyone more in need of health coverage than those with pre-existing conditions?