Recovery Takes Time..Nerve Regeneration
Jan 2, 2014 8:48:27 GMT -8
Post by Lαrα on Jan 2, 2014 8:48:27 GMT -8
I decided to start this post after talking earlier today with a member about the healing process and time that recover can take place within. When i asked my consultant this question, he said it was approximately within the first two years.........but is it really, i do question this?
I read an article earlier which indicates otherwise...
The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. Injuries in these locations have only a very limited capacity to heal, because nerve regeneration tends not to occur. In contrast, peripheral nerves have a striking capacity for regeneration.
Even completely severed peripheral nerves, if repaired in a timely fashion, can regrow, allowing the patients to enjoy complete, or nearly complete recovery in many cases.
Sourced from Here
Even completely severed peripheral nerves, if repaired in a timely fashion, can regrow, allowing the patients to enjoy complete, or nearly complete recovery in many cases.
Sourced from Here
I think within the first year improvements can be seen and in the second year too....but why are we often advised of a two year time frame? Personally my most significant improvements occurred the year following my two years.
Although it does make sense because nerve regeneration occurs quite slowly at approximately 1 inch each month, so you can imagine that for some people regeneration of the nerves can take years.
When a peripheral nerve is cut, the axon segments distal to the injury (furthest away from the spinal cord) die off in a process called “Wallerian degeneration.”
When the nerve is repaired, the axons in the proximal segment (closest to the spinal cord) regrow into the distal, denervated segment. This growth occurs at a rate of about 1 mm per day.
This translates roughly to 1 inch per month, or 1 foot per year.
Once the axons regrow back into the denervated muscles, the muscles will begin to function again. During the time it takes for the axons to regrow into the muscles, a process that can take many months, or even years, the muscles will be paralyzed and will atrophy.
Sourced from Here
When the nerve is repaired, the axons in the proximal segment (closest to the spinal cord) regrow into the distal, denervated segment. This growth occurs at a rate of about 1 mm per day.
This translates roughly to 1 inch per month, or 1 foot per year.
Once the axons regrow back into the denervated muscles, the muscles will begin to function again. During the time it takes for the axons to regrow into the muscles, a process that can take many months, or even years, the muscles will be paralyzed and will atrophy.
Sourced from Here
I think its so very important to keep working the muscles whilst they do not have signal to them and keep flexing them otherwise they will naturally atrophy. Ideally you want to maintain as much muscle as possible for when regeneration occurs.
My best advise that i can give is to keep up an exercise regime, never give up on the hope of returned function because you need that motivation to keep up the hard work.
Keep building up your stamina and strengthening those muscles that do have nerves to them below and above injury level. You will see the difference it makes to you. I was so surprised at how much my walking gait and strength improved.
So dont get to that 2 year bench mark and then think you can stop the work because recovery is done at this point....keep going and think about the time it takes for healing to take place.
Of course there will be factors that affect this such as some complete injuries or some muscles that are furthest away from the spinal cord whose nerves degenerate. In some cases such as these, significant healing may not be an option.
On the whole, i do think we have reason to remain positive and keep working daily to achieve the maximum chance for recovery that we possibly can
.