All parents or attendants, of children and adults with “incurable†neurological disorders or head or spinal injuries, from the region can look forward to a free consultation relating to stem cell therapy, being hailed as a boon for people with such conditions, from world renowned neurosurgeon Dr Alok Sharma in Chandigarh on August 31. For appointments Ms. Pushkala, representing the Dr Sharma run Navi Mumbai based NeuroGen Brain & Spine Institute, can be contacted on 9821529653 or 9920200400.
Dr Sharma, whose institute has already treated 8500 patients from 65-odd countries across the world, including UK and USA, with stem cell therapy, spoke to LifeInChandigarh.com in Chandigarh on Saturday while taking a short break from consultations he provided to scores of patients with neurological disorders at a hospital in Panchkula.
He claimed that the success rate among the 8500 patients treated for various neurological conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, head injury, brain stroke, paralysis, dementia, multiple sclerosis and neuropsychiatric disorders, etc., has been 90% with patients showing improvement to the extent of 80-90% and leading a near normal life.
Photos By: Life In Chandigarh
Asian countries – India, China and Japan – have taken a lead in the field of stem cell therapy for neurological disorders and patients from world over are coming here to get treatment. In fact, the first scientific paper on stem cell therapy for autism published in any international medical journal of repute was authored by Dr Alok Sharma.
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The renowned neurosurgeon, who has to his credit 96 scientific papers, published in international medical journals of repute and has written 16 books besides winning several prestigious national and international awards for his accomplishments in the field of stem cell therapy, asserts that Neuro Regenerative Rehabilitation Therapy (stem cell therapy) is simple, 100% safe and effective. There are no medicines and no surgery. Just two thin needles are required – one for aspiration of bone marrow from hip bone of the patient, separation of stem cells from bone marrow and then injecting it in his spinal fluid.
The first cycle of stem cell therapy is a weeklong exercise, which starts with pre-therapy investigations, including clinical, psychological, physical, functional and blood tests. Following the therapy is a process of neurorehabilitation, which involves physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychological counselling, special education and diet and nutrition. Follow ups are advised at three and six months’ intervals.
Dr Sharma stresses that outcomes are excellent, since there is life changing transformation in the lives of patients, from a vegetative and lonely existence, because of their neurological disorders, to normal productive members of society. But there is still a general lack of awareness even among doctors regarding diagnosis of neurological disorders and their treatment, which is depriving thousands of such patients the boon of this phenomenal treatment. The Stem Cell Society is seeking to bridge this information gap by organising professional workshops and conferences for doctors in different parts of the country, he adds.
A week’s treatment at the NeuroGen Brain & Spine Institute costs between Rs 2-4 lakh. But poor and needy patients, who cannot afford that much, are also not refused treatment by the institute. As a rule, the institute provides this treatment free of cost to members of the uniformed forces, including the fire services personnel, who get incapacitated in the line of duty.
A shining example of men in uniform not only getting back on their feet but also being able to perform active duties is that of Major Manish Singh, a paratrooper of the Indian Army, who as a Lieutenant won a Shaurya Chakra for gallantly fighting on in a counter terror operation in Jammu & Kashmir despite taking a bullet in his spine, which eventually led to his paralysis below the navel. Surgeries and various treatments notwithstanding, the officer remained incapacitated for a few years before Neuro Regenerative Rehabilitation Therapy at Dr Sharma’s institute allowed him to proudly wear his red beret again.
Dr Sharma also presented before news media, parents of a 4-year-old child from the region, Bhuprad Kumar Kanwar, who is well on the way to full recovery from cerebral palsy. The child was unable to sit and stand without support, had a poor gait, posture and balance, selective attention, eye contact and concentration, was unable to chew food or eat by himself, his mode of communication was non verbal or monosyllabic and he needed assistance for activities of daily living.
After two rounds of treatment, Bhuprad, to the delight of his parents has shown considerable improvement in his head and trunk control, he is able to sit erect, is more aware about himself and his surroundings, his socialisation has improved and he is able to chew food and vocalise a few words.
Emphasising that there is no age considerations for stem cell therapy in treatment of neurological disorders, Dr Sharma shares that his youngest patient so far has been an 8 month old and the oldest a 82 year old. Regarding the future of stem cell therapy, he says as the therapy develops further it is sure to get integrated into mainstream multi-modal treatment.
The neurosurgeon, also professor and head of Neurosurgery at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, advised parents to consult a doctor if they notice abnormally delayed development of their child in terms of its ability to sit up, crawl, walk or talk.
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