Treatments for Paralysis: Traditional, Alternative, & Surgical

Car accidents, bicycle accidents, and slip and fall accidents can all cause debilitating injuries which completely change a family’s life in an instant, especially if the accident victim is paralyzed by the injuries.

One in 50 Americans is currently living with paralysis and the most common cause is spinal cord injuries that people sustain because of motor vehicle accidents, according to the Christopher Reeve Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis Foundation. While there is currently no cure for paralysis, there are promising treatments for paralysis that are available.

Traditional Ways of Treating Paralysis

Most “treatments” for paralysis are focused on helping patients learn new ways of living and helping them become as independent as possible. Another important element of treatment is preventing or treating the complications that often arise with paralysis patients.

Some of the treatments and aids used for paralysis patients include:

  • bladder retraining;
  • medications for pain;
  • ventilators for breathing issues;
  • electric wheelchairs;
  • muscle relaxants for spasms; and
  • modified motor vehicles adapted for the disabled.

An encouraging development in robotics, reported on by the New York Times and the magazine Nature, tells of patients with severe paralysis using brain-controlled prosthetics to manipulate a robotic arm. No matter what supplementary items a paralyzed patient uses, the family will need to address high healthcare costs.

Acupuncture as a Treatment Possibility

Alternative treatments such as acupuncture have shown promise with improving symptoms of paralysis in some patients. In the mid-1990s, a Boston University School of Medicine study included 20 stroke patients who experienced paralysis (10 chronic, 10 acute) who were administered acupuncture treatment.

The study results, published in Acupuncture and Electrotherapeutics Research, found that eight of the patients had “measurable objective improvement in motor function” which included:

  • knee flexion;
  • knee extension; and
  • shoulder adduction.

Surgical Treatments for Denver Paralysis Patients

Medical science is accelerating at a rapid rate, and new, promising treatments are constantly introduced. Some of the surgical treatment options that doctors may recommend include:

  • nerve transplants;
  • phrenic nerve surgery;
  • brachial plexus reconstructive surgery;
  • diaphragm pacemaker implantation;
  • decompression surgery; and
  • nerve grafting and flap surgery for pressure sores.

It’s prudent to speak about treatment possibilities with the attending physician and to check with national paralysis organizations that stay up to date on research and treatment options.

The Stress of Paying for Treatments

It goes without saying that these treatments options will not be cheap. Paralysis care can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars. How is a family supposed to pay for the mounting medical bills?

If your family member was paralyzed in an accident for which someone else was responsible, you can hold that party accountable by filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

If you can prove that the party’s actions contributed to the accident, and if you can effectively demonstrate the extent of your losses, you can receive a sizable settlement that will pay for not only the current and future medical bills, but may also address loss of income, mental anguish, and other damages.

Our firm can help accident victims and their families recover compensation for their injuries. For legal counsel in or around Denver, contact D.J. Banovitz for a free consultation today at 303-300-5060.

D.J. Banovitz’ career has always concentrated on trial practice and he has litigated hundreds of cases. His passion and sole career focus has been to seek justice for people suffering from personal injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence. The hallmark of the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, is the total commitment to professionalism, quality, and personalized care of your injury case. D.J. has dedicated his professional life to helping those most in need and is a proud and active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His experience includes volunteering for Colorado Rural Legal Services in Montrose, the Colorado Aids Project, consumer law, family law, criminal defense, and Alternative Defense Counsel for juveniles in Denver.