Monday, May 3, 2010

Wake Up Call : Feb 2010 issue Guest Editorial

Wake Up Call


The recovery of any person with spinal injury is dependent on multiple factors.

· The belief that he/she is getting better,

· a good motivator,

· positive cheerful thoughts,

· coupled with proper scientific therapy with persistence of exercise programme over a long duration, will all add up to give improvement.

· Add to this over time, the natural course of recovery ie end of spinal shock or decrease in spasms/ pain due to change in neuronal paths, or healing of osteoporotic fractures [ yes fractures do heal very well even in paraplegics, if re trauma is avoided].
It should be remembered that majority of persons with spinal cord injury are initially not fortunate to be on the path of improvement but retrogress and deteriorate for a multitude of reasons, chief one being lack of even basic rehab, guidance and facilities. Even getting back on the naturally achievable recovery road, is then interpreted as great triumph.

If , after all the effort, an SCI patient feels better, and feels that he has recovered well, what more can be 'success'? Its a very relative term, and each individual has to judge his own 'success'. many a times, its just the change in attitude that's needed, to interpret 'success', and faith (this may be in a therapy / a person/ God )
As long as people do not start selling 'miracle cures' with mumbojumbo, and fleece the vulnerable, any good act leading to good motivation towards recovery is welcome.
As a bottomline, we would still stand by good scientific physiotherapy and rehab. given right from the very beginning, so that the patient does not go downhill at all, and reach the best possible capability level.

We at Nina Foundation, see many successfully rehabilitated SCI patients amongst us acheiving great heights in their fields and they have done so not because of some 'stem cell therapy' or ' holy miracles' or ' some blessed healing touch ! By focusing our mind and physical energy to get the best out of us, we have done it!

In UK and USA, there is scrutiny of every therapy, and any kind of false promises / false hopes given to patients would lead to legal prosecution and hefty compensation claims. Therefore 'no one sells miracle stuff' there. A person with spinal injury going through basic care and rehab package in Stoke Mandeville hospital, emerges far far more stronger , without the need for any miracles and stem cells. In Mumbai and several places in India, all we need is a centre practicing the basic fundamental principles of rehab!!...and that's what Nina foundation is striving for!



Dr Riten R Pradhan, Nina Foundation.
Trustee, M.S Orth. FRCS(Ed), FRCS Tr. & Orthl, Orthopedics surgeon, UK.

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