Is There a Cure for Paralysis?

In short, the answer is “yes.”

In October of 2004, a team of Korean researchers were successful in treating a spinal cord injury patient with umbilical cord stem cells who had been wheelchair bound for 19 years. She had been paralyzed from an accident in 1985. Within 15 days of the operation, she was able to move her hips. Within 25 days, there was sensation returning to her feet. Three weeks after the operation, the patient was able to take steps with the use of a walker. Within several months, she was able to walk on her own.  The Team was headed by Dr. Song of Chosun University professor, Dr. Kang of Seoul National University professor and Dr. Hoon, from the Seoul Cord Blood Bank.

The International Spinal Cord Regeneration Center has been treating spinal cord injury since 1991 and is now using umbilical cord stem cells, much like the Korean physicians used. Basically, stem cell transplants can be effective for paralysis if there is some percentage of the original neural fibers remaining to form a “bridge” across the injury site. Second, the dura sac or sheath surrounding the spinal cord must have remained intact, allowing for the flow and integrity of the spinal fluid along the full length of the spinal cord. When these two essential conditions are met, the healing program offered by the ISCRC is one of the most successful in the world today.

What The Treatment Includes

The treatment program includes the following procedures:

• Initial Consultations
• Pre-Surgery Examinations
• Electromyography Test - Pre-Operative
• Peripheral Nerve Velocity Conduction - Pre-Operative
• Reconstructive Micro Surgery on the Spinal Column
• Orthopedic Reconstructive Surgery on the Spinal Column
• Stem Cell Transplants During the Surgery
• Hospitalization for Approximately 7 to 10 days
• Medications while Hospitalized
• Post-Surgery Follow-up Examinations
• Embryonic Cell Transplants over the course of the treatment, administered every two weeks
• Electromyography Test - Post-Operative
• Peripheral Nerve Velocity Conduction - Post-Operative