Paralyzed Man Moves Freely Again After Electrical Spinal Implant

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/20/paralyzed-man-moves-freel_n_864649.html

'LONDON — After Rob Summers was paralyzed below the chest in a car accident in 2006, his doctors told him he would never stand again. They were wrong.

Despite intensive physical therapy for three years, Summers' condition hadn't improved. So in 2009, doctors implanted an electrical stimulator onto the lining of his spinal cord to try waking up his damaged nervous system. Within days, Summers, 25, stood without help. Months later, he wiggled his toes, moved his knees, ankles and hips, and was able to take a few steps on a treadmill.

"It was the most incredible feeling," said Summers, of Portland, Oregon. "After not being able to move for four years, I thought things could finally change."

Still, despite his renewed optimism, Summers can't stand when he's not in a therapy session with the stimulator turned on, and he normally gets around in a wheelchair. Doctors are currently limiting his use of the device, made by Minneapolis-based Medtronic, Inc., to several hours at a time.

His case is described in a paper published Friday in the journal, Lancet. The research was paid for by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.'

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Study link:
http://www.lancet.com/
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No fetuses were harmed in the development of this amazing advance.

Amazing, absolutely amazing.

PB

No need to choose between the two; they can go hand in hand. ;-)

Sounds like they're getting somewhere.

Fixed with duct tape.

player paralyzed from the neck down in danger of being cut off from health care and left to die. His family already has insane medical bills. this kid has not walked for ten years. I wish he'd be given the chance this guy has at a new life.

And yes, science is awesome!

My ongoing joke since my injury in 1980 is that the cure for SCI "is next year." I'm sticking with that prediction.

On Tuesday I partially tore my distal biceps tendon getting out of bed (!). I lost my independence and it was a very hard thing to take. The VA in Dallas is great, but moves very slowly. I rented a patient lift from a local company and had it delivered while I was in the VA ER. Without it I could not even get into or out of bed, the shower or the toilet. My wife has stepped up to the challenge and has been fabulous. Without her I don't know what I'd do.

It's wonderful to dream of a day where those of us with SCI can truly regain our independence. Even if I never get to experience the joy (I'm 54) of a cure, I'm excited for those younger than me and the possibilities for them.

But I'm still cheering for stem cell research. A blastocyst is not a human being.