Another email from the Reeve Foundation tells me a cure for spinal cord injury is close. A recent article in the Sunday Times reveals how a man who fell 200ft whilst snowboarding and who wheeled out of Stoke Mandeville is now walking after receiving "groundbreaking treatment" in the USA. It finishes with a quote from the man's (millionaire) father about how “the University of Miami is doing stem-cell research on guinea pigs, which could lead to a breakthrough in spinal research".
It's the same old story: the distant carrot of a possible cure, the lure of better treatment in America. Is any of this useful to most people with spinal cord injury? Stem-cell research is seen as the holy grail of treatment for SCI - the theory is that stem-cells will be able to help regrow the damaged spinal cord. But the human spinal cord is incredibly complex. I got some idea of it when I went to the Bodyworlds exhibition earlier this year. And even if the research pays off, how long will it be before the benefits are seen in the UK? What are those who are paralysed meant to do in the meantime?
The cure/treatment incentive seems to be a reason to lose focus on the day to day challenges of living with spinal cord injury. "If I do four hours of physiotherapy every day, I may walk again". How does four hours of physio fit with a job or looking after children? And who can afford four hours of physio, let alone have treatment in the US? The Sunday Times article has led to some debate in the comments section with criticism of the NHS for not providing SCI patients with more physiotherapy. But even if the NHS had the money to provide more treatment, how would they choose who they would give it to? Do they prioritise someone who might walk? Or do they help someone improve their transfers so they can get into bed safely? I have nothing but admiration for the (completely free) treatment provided by the NHS. Without it I'd be dead. These debates just seem to take away from the truth that most people choose to simply get on with their lives as best they can. Yes, a cure would be great. But in the meantime, I'm off to do the school run.
