New treatments for nerve injury
When I was young, sulfur drugs were about all a doctor could offer for a sickness. When I played football and other sports in high school, the operations designed to correct a torn knee or ruptured disc hurt the body more than helped. Today medical science is “star wars” advanced. The problem is that the cost of receiving the miracle treatments now available is astronomical. The possibilities for recovery for tragically injured victims many times depend upon a successful effort to collect from the insurance company of the responsible party. Because the financial stakes are high, the fight by the insurance companies is vicious. The following are some of the breakthroughs now being explored by our elite scientists and doctors:
Medical research in Portugal is exploring the possibility that olfactory nerve stem cells from a spinal cord injury patient may be used to repair the spinal cord injury. The idea behind the procedure is that the nasal tissue has nerve cells that can regenerate.
Research on rats with crushed spinal cords suggests potential for a new treatment protocol soon after injury combining radiation therapy to destroy harmful cells and microsurgery to drain excess fluids significantly increases the body's ability to repair the injured cord leading to permanent recovery from injury. When a midline incision was performed on the spinal cord one hour after injury, followed by localized radiation therapy given for ten days starting on day ten after injury, there was nearly a two-fold improvement in the body's ability to heal the injured cord compared with untreated rats.
The Food & Drug Administration on July 16th approved the first the first artificial cervical disc. According to the developers, the prosthesis simulates the function of a natural cervical disc and provides patients with the ability to move their necks compared to the traditional practice of spinal fusion. The results of the clinical trial show that the disc is strong enough to withstand sudden movement and to support the head, so that patients are able to move their head up and down, and from side to side. The new artificial disc, placed through an incision at the front of the neck, is designed to alleviate neck pain and other ailments associated with disc herniations, spinal arthritis and other spine degenerative conditions. The disc consists of a stainless-steel ball and trough that functions as a joint. It is attached to the vertebrae with screws. The components are designed to act as a pivot point, which may allow the spine to move more naturally.
My thanks to the the Shigley Law Firm in Atlanta for its resource on these treatment topics.
http://www.bailey-law.com/lawyer-attorney-1246703.html
This subject of paralysis due in part or whole to nerve damage sends my banner up the flage pole. A motorcycle accident 37 years ago left its mark on me until now with no change anticipated. Just as you refer to the medical knowledge not being what it is today, the area of personal injury help was certainly not as prevalent as it is today. Had I received good counsel back then, perhaps my state of affairs would be better today. But life is good and it's all about tryng not to duplicate our mistakes.