Spinal Cord Injury Treatments
Research into a cure for spinal cord injuries is evolving rapidly, with new trials, treatments, and breakthroughs emerging constantly worldwide. Yet Celeste remains steadfast, continuously tracking developments to find the right opportunity for herself.
It’s how she found Verita Neuro, a leader in the spinal cord injury recovery field and Celeste’s first choice to get her back on her feet. They are the only ones who commercially offer a comprehensive package of an epidural stimulator, stem cell therapy and intensive physical therapy, all key components to Celeste getting back on her feet. This is the operation Celeste has been working hard to raise money for; the operation and therapy cost $110,000 and are not covered by insurance. Celeste has already made headway with Verita Neuro, having been accepted into the program. She continually communicates with them and they have her records.
Verita Neuro remains Celeste’s first choice, however, the spinal cord injury field is fast-moving and Celeste does her best to keep up with new clinical trials and treatment options. Several have caught her eye that could be a more affordable alternative to Verita Neuro.
E-Stand is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This trial is very similar to Verita Neuro - they both offer an epidural stimulator and physical therapy. However, E-Stand doesn’t offer stem cell therapy. The out-of-pocket cost for Celeste will include lodging, transportation and food for several weeks while participating in the study. According to E-Stand, “The goal of this trial is to test and optimize the use of epidural spinal cord stimulation to restore volitional movement in patients suffering from chronic complete motor spinal cord injury and paraplegia.” Celeste has been communicating with them for several weeks now and they have her medical records. They tell her she is a promising candidate!
2. BioXcellerator
An American company based in Scottsdale, BioXcellerator operates a clinic in Medellín, Colombia. They are one of the few stem cell therapy clinics that specialize in providing treatment to spinal cord injury survivors. After researching the company, Celeste spoke with one of their representatives. The cost is $60,000 plus airfare.
3. Stemedix
Stemedix is a newer option, and Celeste is still learning about them. They do stem cell therapy in Florida with cultivated mesenchymal cells or bone marrow cells from the patient. Stememdix is currently building a base of spinal cord injury patients and are producing good results.
4. Kessler Institute
Kessler is conducting ongoing epidural stimulation trials in West Orange, New Jersey. It’s led by Dr. Claudia Angeli, whom Celeste has spoken to personally. Kessler is still in the trial phase and is only monitoring individuals with spinal cord injuries for at least 10 years. It has been two years this summer since Celeste’s injury. Regardless, she remains on the list and monitors this trial for updates. “The ultimate goal of spinal cord injury research at Kessler Institute is to develop ways for individuals with SCI to fully restore their pre-injury levels of function, activity, and quality of life.”
5. Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is conducting separate and ongoing clinical trials with epidural stimulators and stem cell therapy. They are only conducting trials with those who have spinal cord injuries for at least 15 years. Recently, Celeste was informed their funding has expired, but she continues to monitor for updates and remains on their list of candidates.
6. Neuralink
Owned by Elon Musk, Neuralink is a brain-computer interface program aiming to “Create a generalized brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs today and unlock human potential tomorrow.” They are currently in the trial phase and only offering it to quadriplegics. Celeste has signed up for future trials.
7. NVG-291 NervGen
This trial is unique in the sense that they offer a drug to spinal cord injury survivors rather than an epidural stimulator or stem cell therapy. They are currently testing the drug on cervical-level injuries only and recently presented promising results in the second phase of the trial. In short, the results showed increased “increased electrical connectivity between the brain and hand muscle in individuals with a cervical level spinal cord injury.” Celeste has signed up for future trials in hopes they will eventually extend to people with thoracic-level injuries.
8. Neuro Restore
Neuro Restore is an epidural stimulation program in Switzerland, with a unique implant and programming method. The implants are controlled by artificial intelligence software, stimulating the region of the spinal cord that activates the trunk and leg muscles. Their tests have so far resulted in three people walking and they are having amazing results with the program. “All three patients were able to stand, walk, pedal, swim and control their torso movements in just one day, after their implants were activated!” Celeste has been following updates on the program and they are only accepting Swiss candidates.
These are just a few of the many treatment options and clinical trials available for spinal cord injuries. As stated before, the field is constantly changing, with new updates each and every day. This list may change, but for now, Celeste is watching these develop closely as viable alternatives for Verita Neuro. Each option comes with its unique set of benefits and drawbacks, but Celeste’s goal is to keep an open mind to any treatment options she finds. The goal still remains: get Celeste back on her feet, but how she gets there may differ from others. Here at On My Feet and Beyond, we are still working hard to raise $110,000 for Celeste to receive treatment at Verita Neuro, but we also understand that Verita Neuro is not the only option for Celeste to get back on her feet. We introduce these options to inform our supporters that Celeste is keeping an open mind and learning what is best for her journey, and to educate other spinal cord injury survivors of possible treatment options.
