Gruner’s ALS Blog

After 4th Injections (1 IV; 3 LP) stem cell transplantation

January 15th, 2009

I have got my 4^th injection on Wednesday 2009-01-14. The procedure is in my case quit easy. Sometimes 2 more previous Lumber puncture are made to find exactly the channel of the back for the final stem cell transplantation. The lumbar area is divided to section L1 to L5. The injection is given between the section L2/L3 or L3/L4 depended on the space in the section. You are lying on you left side and your spine is buckled because your legs are tightened. After may 5 minutes everything is done, by normal going.

After the first LP I have got some problems with my muscle on the left side. It needs 2 days after the pain were gone. The next LP I have got no problems and no pain so I feel until now quit fine. My muscle power increased during the last 10 days. May it is the combination of Stem cell treatment, Acupuncture, Physiotherapy and my additional training on the jam. I can now walk the Stair line (up/down) with additional weight on my legs without using my hands for support. Also I’m able to walk over the hurdles line (7 pieces in line, highest by 25cm) without help only with safety guide by my side for 10 lines. Today I’m feeling that my hand power becomes better and the fingers are more flexible as the days before. My walking becomes also more save and powerful. It is not longer like walking as a wood plate. It becomes more movable but the speediness is until now quit low because I have to be careful. But after all I think to beet the illness you have to do lot of Physiotherapy to keep your muscle elastic. So after laying in bet it need several time to make the body movable and I fell during the day after all exercising it becomes better even if you feel quit tied. Now as additional treatment I start to take vitamin B12, we will see how it works. I will say thank you on this way to my Physiotherapist Tom and all the doctor specially Dr. Tonny who speaks very good German and to the nurses and translators who are always helpful, careful and polity during the hole days and night. That all make my stay here in hospital secure and comfortable and I enjoy every day because I guess his treatment is one way (may the only one) to beet against ALS nowadays.

Entry Filed under: als,Story of treatment