Aside from the fact/idea that the SCI and medical community jump at these new gadgets/devices ("the" pump, etc) all with "hopes" for a "cure" seems rather interesting (to me at least). As far as known, there is no one strategy that will bring anyone back 100%. That strategy may be a valid tool that can/should be used in conjunction with other strategies. Think what you will but work is going to be required at some/several stages.

The structure of the body is too complex for a single invention to be invented that will "cure" completely/entirely. When the word "cure" is used it tends to have the fastfood effect equated to it. Another way of stating that is the word "cure" (in usually SCI cases) seems to be related to the idea or ideals like that of instant gratification or as I prefer to call it "microwave-able", lol. Project Walk seems to have the correct idea of treating the cause not symptoms (as I typed earlier when notions circled of me being full of b.s or spam and only interest was that of money). I spoke with a doctor today and for quite sometime and he agreed to my notion of most SCI patients dealing with varied degrees of TBI.

Common sense should tell anyone that if you were injured forcibly enough to break your "neck/spine" then there's a large percentage of you also having some degree of TBI. Why? because your brain was shaken up (to put it mildly in some cases) or jostled around. We all know of the idea of velocity and how it relates to a car traveling at certain speeds when stopped abruptly or suddenly. Use that analogy when thinking of a brain in one's skull and the injury act is the sudden/abrupt stopping (the skull being the wall).

Some may think that well, it depends on the level and degree of damage to the spine? (Note if the entire connection was severed then that's an entirely different writing to be addressed) Partially true but more so it seems that the bigger worry is the transmitting of signals to various parts/extremtities. Now let's say you accomplish the strength aspect and have a bit of endurance along with it, shouldn't walking be easy? If one thinks so then what of proprioception and equilibrioception? Inner ear and vestibular? Even the world's strongest man (core strength and lower body) couldnt go on a merry-go-round or do the drill where you put your forehead on the end of a baseball bat, go round in circles quickly and then attempt to walk straight or without staggering and falling. Think of one that suffers "sea-sickness" and when off the boat still feeling as though in motion or swaying. Now add time into the equation where your body learns how to compensate and other unwanted things begin to result (dysfunction). It kind of brings the saying of mind, body, and soul to essence and true. Soul being one's will-power, determination, drive, quest for knowledge, and motivation.

Say what you will, but the D.M.S. in the equipment used for and posted by project walk, the NMES I spoke of does the same and more. But it is not the one strategy necessary to re-activate function. I must consult before I continue any further writing along this subject matter. As I stated project walk has a great philosophy (treat causes, not symptoms and individual dictates the results received by the effort put in). The only problem foreseen by me is that of one reaching the third phase without any assistance of some type of mechanism/tool? McCann's philosophy.

Stunning ok I'm being a bit sarcastic, the reason being is that many might ponder and possibly echo your questions/thoughts...I think

In the beginning there is an unending hunger to seek out the not understood, dig deep for answers to questions no one seems to really have a clue about and then share with anyone that will listen. Not unlike the thousands of years of Chinese medicine, with SCI, all we have is life experience, history if you will, with little concrete science to shed light on the CURE. Keep posting McCann. For as I sift through your contiguous stream of paragraph, there are certain words, sentences, thoughts, that peek my interest and remind me of how little time I now spend searching for SCI CURE answers.

I'm in my forth decade with an SCI body, doing my best to live in the moment. I'm past searching for a cure, I'm fine, living now.

Some of what you are posting I do look at further...thanks for sharing and taking the time to.

Jerry

PS. BTW, would it be possible for you to breakup your contiguous thoughts into smaller bits, paragraphs. I have a headache now I'm going to stop off at my local Chinese herbalist today, buy me some Panax Ginseng.

Well dang!

I somehow managed to get 3/4th the way through your post before my eyes started to uncontrollably blur then shut down completely, leaving me totally blind in one eye and permanently fizzled out in the other.

Add to that my brain is now frazzled to beat hell and I get these horrific throbbing headaches lasting hours on end making it impossible to function in any way shape or form for more than 2 or 3 minutes at a time.

The doctor I saw told me the effects would more than likely be permanent and maybe even get worse as time goes by. A second and then third opinion got me the same prognosis and it was suggested by all three medical experts that I should go to Switzerland and have myself euthanized immediately because there is no known cure for what is now called:

UNBELIEVABLY LONG WINDED DIATRIBE WITH VIRTUALLY NO USEFUL CONTENT WHAT SO EVER ISM

I can only hope sir you will take pity upon my poor misbegotten soul and help with the plane fare to the a fore mentioned country where an end to my horrific plight awaits my arrival.

E-dog

Once again, an otherwise well written, well thought out post, recieving derision and ridicule simply due to the lack of a couple strokes of an enter key.

I've read your post, McCann,, and I can only suggest to you what I have in the past. While I don't find a problem with similar material in novels or newspaper articles,, I find it most frustrating when trying to read it on a computer screen.

It distracts from the content.

As to whether TBI is a common denominater among SCI sufferers ( I hope the over sensitive among us will forgive me that term),, I think that what you are refering to, in many cases, would be about what one would recieve from a fall performing gymnastics. Some damage,, but more than ten years of smoking,, illicit or otherwise,, I don't know,,, but maybe that's because of my own TBI,, and yes,, I had one with my injury.

I do, certainly, agree with the idea that therapy should involve a lot of different modalities. As to whether any of them presently in use, has a chance of changing me,, a t10 complete,, into a t12 complete or a t10 incomplete,, I don't buy it.

What I do buy is the need for maintaining as fit and healthy a body as possible,,, not in case of a cure, but simply to enjoy ones life to the fullest.

But what do I know?
ed

I was too wrapped up in my typing and didnt edit to make paragraphs til now, lol. I forgot about the way writings are judge on here, not quality but format (jk sort of). I corrected it and apologies for getting too engrossed in my thoughts, etc. I will remember to keep it in mind. Thanks for the headsup.

What if I ridiculed speling, punctuation, or grammar even of others? But I wouldn't because if I get the point of what is meant, then it shouldn't matter. I don't write or do this or things to one up individuals aka display intelligence and the likes of such b.s. because one can learn from a fool. I do this because I think of it as a journey we travel, not a race of some sort.

At times I want to type as quickly as I think (like I used to) but not yet. On a good day I'm at 14WPM.

Ahhh, the idea of smoking is what I like to phrase as a much slower version of suicide because it only negatively affects your body aka kills you (nothing positive arises/happens to the body from smoking)
But yes, most "breaks" are due to a large or hard blow.

And one should always enjoy life to the fullest. Unfortunately it takes this type of event to put our view of life in proper perspective knowing/seeing what really matters. When a/the "lesson's learned", it becomes easier to accept/know (we hope to understand but may never fully).

Let's see the country will be of your choice and so too is the method of transport (plane, couch, chair on wheels, etc). What I'm saying is my assistance isn't necessary because I'm certain you can/will accomplish what you state/forsee, LOL. Now I'm stating this jokingly and void of malice, so please try not to be a sally! LOL Thanks for the comic relief writings you posted, its appreciated.

Yo Mac, that's why I'm here.
I know you would never take me seriously.
What's a sally?

It's just a joke that marines call army men, so I was joking of your "marine-ness." No harm, I can take as well as dish/serve jokes too, lol. I'm a good sport and know how far to go before its deemed offensive or malicious (as I'm sure you do as well). TTYS