Is Stem Cell therapy able to help after a Spinal Cord Injury?
The short answer is No
As of January 2020 there are no FDA approved stem cell based therapies available for spinal cord injuries.
While there have been some newsworthy and “miraculous” stories involving stem cells and recovery after a SCI, the US FDA is concerned that some patients seeking cures and remedies are vulnerable to stem cell treatments that are illegal and potentially harmful.
Clinical trials are ongoing in the United States at various locations.
Some trials are seeking individuals in the acute stage (within 72 hours). Those individuals are often approached by doctors. Others trials are researching the effect of stem cell therapy months or years after an injury. So when reading about the results of various trials and even applying for them it’s important to consider the qualifications.
SCITrials.org is an excellent resource that helps narrow down the search. You can search trials based on geography, level of injury, age of injury, and even keywords.
Clinicaltrials.gov is a larger resource which is worth reviewing if you don’t find what you are looking for on scitrials.org
It takes some time but be sure to create a spreadsheet or some other kind of list to track the various trials you have applied for and the responses.
Beyond the potential that stem cell’s have for future treatments, a helpful way to think about today’s application is as an additional layer of therapy. If you qualify for a stem cell trial that therapy builds on a foundation of exercise and physical activity just as stretching, aqua therapy, acupuncture, virtual reality, a
