“"The level of ophthalmology in China is surprisingly high. In fact, the level of medicine as a whole in China is high."” -Dr. David Klein - US Opthalmologist
P A T I E N T E X P E R I E N C E – S P I N A L C O R D I N J U R Y
NAME: Gerald Allen
COUNTRY: U.S.A. (Florida)
AGE: 27
DIAGNOSIS: C5-C6 Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.
REASON FOR COMING FOR TREATMENT: On 11-10-02, Jerry suffered a c-5 fracture. C-6 was pushed into his spinal cord. Initially, he lost all movement and spent two and half a months at an inpatient therapy unit and then a further two years in outpatient therapy. He regained some movement in his arms and noticeable but small movements in his hand. He could stand on the parallel bars for five minutes. He would easily tire when pushing himself in his wheelchair after 15 minutes. However, he did not see much improvement for the year prior to his trip to Nan Shan hospital. The doctors in his home country stopped prescribing rehabiliation one year before because he was not making improvements.
TREATMENT: Umbilical cord stem cell and nerve growth factor injections with rehabilitation therapy.
BEFORE THE TREATMENT: He had good movement in his arms but his triceps were weak. He had sensation in most of his body but could not tell the difference between cold and hot. He was unable to sweat below his neck. Jerry had some movement in his legs and very little movement in toes. He could extend his legs but could not move them back and forth. He used a catheter to urinate.
He had more muscle strength and more muscle stamina. He could stand in the parallel bars for more than ten minutes without spasms. Both hands opened up with the left one being able to open more than the right. He could feel cold and hot on his feet, legs and back which he could not feel before. He could sweat on his back and legs. It was easier to lift his legs and draw his feet back to his body. He could bring his legs back after extending them, and straighten his legs more than he could before the treatment.
May 2nd: He went back to Florida and because he had improvement, his doctor prescribed rehabilitation for him again. During the rehabilitation, he was able to stand on the parallel bars for over twenty-five minutes. His right hand also had increased in terms of mobility.
May 20th: (Words from Jerry) I have been home now for forty days. I am able to stand now in the parallel bars with minimal assistance for longer periods of time, do little squats, and take a few steps backwards (It's a start). I am able to get up on my hands and knees with little assistance and I am working a lot with my arms and hands which are getting stronger and easier to use. I can open and close my hands a lot better, and grip strength is increasing.
