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Like many people with an SCI, you may wonder if a cure to repair your spinal cord will be found in your lifetime. No one is sure when a cure will be found. But every day researchers are learning more about how the spinal cord works. They are using this knowledge to make progress in improving treatment of SCI. This sheet provides a brief summary of cure research and what it might mean to you.
With SCI, damage is not restricted to nerves at the injury site. The injury triggers a complex reaction in the body. This can also damage nearby healthy nerves, blood vessels, and tissues. After the initial injury heals, scar tissue can form at the site. This may cause further damage to nerves and keep them from regrowing. Because spinal cord injuries are so complex, finding a cure has not been easy. Current research suggests that a cure will likely involve not just one, but several treatments.
Research efforts have mainly been focused on these goals:
Minimizing damage to nerves at the injury site
Getting damaged nerves to regrow (also called nerve regeneration)
Improving rehabilitation methods to increase mobility and function
Improving treatments for specific health problems in the body
Treatments to test this research have involved some of the following:
Using certain medications to help reduce or prevent damage to nerves shortly after injury
Transplanting healthy nerves at the injury site to promote nerve growth
Using special technologies or devices to improve nerve and muscle control in the body
Using new medications, procedures, or surgery to treat health problems, such as pain, muscle spasms, and bowel and bladder control
New clinical trials and experiments for SCI are always being planned. You may hear about one of these and wonder whether you should participate. If so, talk to your healthcare team. They can advise you on whether a specific trial or experiment is likely to benefit your health. They can also help you steer clear of unproven claims and risky bets.
It’s easy to focus on the possibility of a cure and forget about where you are today. Currently, there is no cure for SCI. So, live your life as fully as possible with the abilities you have now. Keep your body as healthy as possible. Follow the plan that your healthcare team has set out for you. Take care of your skin, your muscles, and your overall health. Work with your healthcare team to achieve and maintain the highest level of function possible with current treatments for your level of SCI. By staying as healthy as you can, you increase your chances of being able to take advantage of new treatments in the future, including steps toward a cure. You also give yourself a higher quality of life right now.
To learn more about cure research for SCI, these websites may help:
ClinicalTrials.govwww.clinicaltrials.gov
International Collaboration on Repair Discoverieswww.icord.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokewww.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sci/detail_sci.htm