An Exciting Start

As I mentioned, there are some exciting results presenting themselves in labs around our country. I will tell you about the things that I found promising.

One scientist in Ohio, Jerry Silver, PhD. who is studying chondroitinase peptides as an inhancement to recovery in a non-hostile environment. The injury itself is complicated, but great strides have been made in limiting further damage from the body’s natural response to damage. Using those techniques in rats, combined with these new peptides, he is showing axonal regeneration!

He has taken these excited results, and decided to look at bladder function in these rats. Amazingly, rats are regaining control over their bladders!! I know that movement and walking are ideal gains, however bladder dysfunction is a huge quality of life matter, as well as a source of health complications. This would be a huge step forward for people with spinal cord injuries!

It is interesting to note that rats do not experience bowel dysfunction with spinal cord injury, so this cannot be studied in these experiments. Dr. Silver is hopeful that these results would translate to bowel control as well; another big gain for quality of life. I understand many of you may think that this sound minimal in the big picture, so if you are not excited by this, at least be satisfied that this research is taking place out there. People are not accepting spinal cord injury as a conclusion.