How Growth Hormone Therapy Enhances Recovery of Patients with Spinal Damage

              Researchers have found that combining human growth hormone and physical therapy helps people with severe spinal damage recover faster. The results of the study presented to the European Endocrinology Society show that daily treatment with GH produced significant positive changes in sensory functions of the spinal structure. GH triggers the production of a chemical by the pituitary gland, which helps regenerate new nerves. Although the findings are inconclusive, there is overwhelming evidence that this method could be used to treat people with the condition fully. This article will discuss the efficiency of Growth Hormone Therapy in managing various types of spinal injury.

About Severe Spinal Injury

            Spinal injury results from a series of interferences of parts of the nervous system. Denervation, which is the loss of nerve activity in the affected region’, is the most obvious sign that the injury is severe and thus can be described as traumatic. Once the human muscle loses some nerve components, such as endplates and myofibrils, its atrophy changes significantly. Atrophy increases with the denervation level, eventually rendering one virtually immobile.

            It is important to note that prolonged spinal injuries are harder to reverse because reinnervation becomes difficult. Even in the case of growth hormone therapy, the procedure's success depends on the length of the period before intervention. That is to say that the sooner a spinal injury is addressed using any medically approved method, the better. The process of axonal generation, which is essential in maintaining a healthy spine, is greatly affected by the affected nerve’s inability to secrete neurotrophic chemicals. The lack of neurotrophic chemicals weakens the burner bands, further complicating recovery from traumatic spinal damage.

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Axonal Regeneration

                Axonal regeneration is the only sure way of treating spinal injury. Several therapies have been proposed and experimented with to fix the condition, but the results have not been satisfactory. Most of the methods tested have only managed to accelerate axonal generation have only done so to a certain level. However, scientists and physicians are still conducting more experiments to find a method to help regenerate these important elements to the desired level.

Efficacy of Growth Hormone (HG) in Nerve Regeneration

            Among all therapeutic methods tested so far, injection with the growth hormone has been found to have greater success in increasing nerve regeneration for patients with spinal injury. Naturally, the growth hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. However, the body’s ability to produce the hormone may be hindered by factors such as old age, poor diet, or injury. As mentioned earlier, the hormone plays an important role in nerve regeneration. Therefore, its levels can be boosted by administering a synthetic growth hormone.

           Additionally, people who have suffered from traumatic spinal injury tend to produce an amount of hormones below normal levels. This phenomenon is quite strange, and scientists continue to try to find the reason behind it. Nevertheless, patients with this problem can be injected with synthetic growth hormone to cater to the deficit.  In addition to increasing GH to the required levels, the treatment enhanced nerve regeneration to maintain denervated muscles in patients with compromised nerves.

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The Research

             18 patients with traumatic spinal injury were subjected to a study over six months. The growth hormone level in 13 patients was below normal, a condition known as Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD). The patients were injected with one dose of artificial growth hormone daily for six months to correct this deficiency. Their recovery process was monitored after the first three months. The patients were also categorized according to age, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference.

           This was necessary because the natural production of the growth hormone varies with the parameters above. As mentioned, the patients also underwent physical therapy sessions to achieve better results. To assess the recovery of the patients, researchers performed simple motor and spinal injury tests. It was established that patients who got a growth hormone injection showed great improvements within three months of treatment. By the sixth month, most patients were fully cured of their spinal injuries.

             Lewis rats were put into four groups in similar research to be examined. The first group was a negative control; the other three were subjected to various tests.

• Subjected to chronic denervation for eight weeks, followed by nerve transfer (ulnar-to-median).
• Underwent denervation for 8 weeks and treated with 0.6g/day of purified GH alongside Ulnawr-to-median nerve transfer.
• They did not undergo chronic denervation but were subjected to ulnar-to-median nerve transfer.
• Served as the baseline and was used for naïve controls.

Tested Parameters

        The four groups were subjected to grip tests weekly for fourteen weeks. Among the parameters being tested in the experiment include:

• Median nerve regeneration.
• Neuromuscular junction reinnervation.
• Flexor digitorum superficialis atrophy.

         The test results showed that animals injected with the growth hormone showed greater improvements in median nerve regeneration. Nerve regeneration was measured using the Axon density, diameter, and myelin thickness. Additionally, the experiment revealed that the animals treated with GH showed significant recovery of motor function.

In summary, researchers found out the following from the two tests:

1 Growth hormone enhances axon regeneration.
2 Growth hormone therapy helps maintain chronically deserved muscles.
3 Growth promotes motor reinnervation.
4 Growth hormone enhances functional recovery.

          Cumulatively, the effects of the growth hormone help people with severe spinal injuries recover faster. However, the treatment is most helpful when combined with other forms of treatment.

More Research Needed

             Although the experiments above have shown the efficacy of the growth hormone in spinal damage treatment, the strategy is still under scientific scrutiny. The results above cannot be relied on fully due to several factors. For instance, the experiment conducted using Lewis rats cannot be used to tell what would happen in the case of humans. The sample size was too small to give conclusive and reliable results. These are only preliminary results but indicate hope for the near future.

           Until this study, it was widely believed that damaged axons cannot be repaired in the medical world. If this treatment method is approved, it will be a major game-changer in the medical world. Patients with traumatic spinal injury will no longer feel condemned to the wheelchair forever, thanks to the muscle-maintaining abilities of the growth hormone.

Alternative Therapeutic Treatments

             As mentioned earlier, various methods have been tested to determine their efficacy in treating or managing severe spinal injuries. Growth hormone therapy is only one of the several methods still being studied regarding the condition. However, it is important to note that the nature of treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Severe cases of the condition can be managed through surgery and assistive devices that enable affected people to live normal lives without depending on others entirely. Here are some alternative treatments for the condition.

Immobilization

            This method stabilizes the spine by bringing it into proper alignment. This is done using various equipment, such as a special bed or a rigid collar.

Surgery –

        Spinal surgery is a treatment method to remove bone fragments and other unwanted materials in the injured area. The method also stabilizes the spine and prevents deformities arising from the injury.

Hydrotherapy –

           In cases where the patient experiences a lot of pain, water is used to relieve the pain. That can be done by soaking in a hot tub or mineral bath.

Intravenous IV Methylprednisolone Treatment –

            This is the most potent non-surgical treatment method for the condition ever found. The treatment is exclusively designed for mild spinal injuries that do not need surgery. However, the chemical has been found to have severe side effects on the patient, such as pneumonia and blood clotting. For this reason, the treatment has been largely stopped.

Rehabilitation –

           Although technically not a treatment method, rehabilitation has helped people recovering from spinal injuries face the journey. A team of professionals such as dietitians, physical therapists, and rehabilitation nurses usually care for the patient in the early stages of recovery.

Electrical Stimulation Devices

           Sometimes, people with severe spinal injuries cannot move their arms and legs. However, with special electrical stimulation devices, people can easily stand, walk, and grip objects.

Conclusion

          Enhances Recovery of Patients with Spinal DamageTraumatic spinal injury happens to many people around the globe annually through accidents and bodily complications. Given the sensitivity of the spinal structure, surgery is never an easy option, hence the need to try safer methods such as growth hormone therapy. As mentioned, treatment with GH has not been fully approved, but it can be used in the meantime. The best thing about this method is that it doesn’t have nasty side effects.