new member ;-)

[pendinesands]

hi

i POSTED A thread a few days ago regarding being new member,
i have sci damage at c5-c6-c7 area,incomplete,iam wondering if it will be a good idea to try and go for STEM CELL TRANSPLANT???
has anyone been for this treatment????i have seen the xcell website in germany,does anyone have any info on the idea?
any info is much apprecited!

John

[Gary Anderson]

Hi John

I am an incomplete para able to walk on 2 sticks after suffering a train crash in 1989.

My injury was to the cauda equina nerves at the base of the spine otherwise known as the horses tail. My cord was undamaged. The end result was that the ability to walk was there my nerves had just forfotten how.

After my accident I was working in USA where I attended the Christopher Reeve Foundation and actually was seen by the same doctor attendign to him. It was there that I was introduced to FES (Functional Electric Stimulation) which really helped my weakened muscles.

I returned to the UK and attended a private physio hospital where I worked long and hard to get where I am now.

In the late 1990s/early 2000s I was asked if I would like to be a guinea pig and have stem cell treatment. Whilst this does not work for everyone it worked for me.

I have known people who are better off after it and people who are worse off. For me, I had nothign to lose - the worst that could happen was I end up in a wheelchair and I already was.

After the FES and stem cell and the therapy, I eventually got to a point where I can walk 8 hours a day no bother. I am able  to lead what for me is a normal life and have to admit that despite my medical knowledge I wall always strive to take whatever treatment is offered to help me. As I have said before, I COULD NOT accept life in a wheelchair. My friends on here will understand what I mean as I have posted on this before. But for me, I just take each day as it comes and hope for the best. This way, I CAN stay positive.

Best of luck John and I hope it all works out well for you.

Dr Gary Anderson

[morinji]

Hi Gary

I have just joined this forum. I'm a incomplete paraplegia (injury area was L2, T12, being for 6yrs+) Currently, I'm able to walk with bilateral elbow crutches for short distances. But i 'm still relying on wheelchair most of the time for daily activities because I couldn't regain my body balance. As such, going out on crutches (100%) is still not feasible, especially for hours. I do swimming to maintain my body fitness & leg muscles especially. My left ankle has been "foot-drop" / (can't really move)--- which also hinder my walking & balancing sometimes.

Can you please kindly provide me with more information on FES (Functional Electric Stimulation). Keen to know if that will assist me further improvement to my situation. Your information is most appreciated. Thank you

I like yr quote: ~the darkest hour is only 60 minutes and whatever won't kill you will make you stronger.~