We need more info about BBS return and epidural stimulation

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Hello everyone. I've spent the past weeks trying to craft together some questions about BBS (bladder, bowel, sexual function) return to ask to Dr Susan Harkema's team involved in epidural stimulation trials. My time was not only spent writing, but consulting with other activists in the community as I wanted to make sure that my questions were both correct and fair. 

As you may know, the trial, with many sponsors including CDRF (Christopher and Donna Reeve Foundation), and marketed under the BigIdea (which I think is wonderful marketing) has produced two papers and has put out some information about BBS return. 

See the last two posts for more information about the trials and my interest in them.

"An unexpected success story". Really? I'd like more info. PART II

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Just so you know, this post is Part II. If you haven't yet read it, Part I is here.

It took me a little time to get back to Part II as I've been waiting on some information. It hasn't all arrived yet, but I figure I'll get down what information I can now.

Sine it's been a few weeks I'll make a short round up of Part I...

• Epidural stimulation trials on standing and stepping at the University of Louisville, supported by the Christopher & Donna Reeve Foundation (CDRF), receive new press attention after the lead researcher Susan Harkema published a paper with her results.
• But more importantly, already as early as October 2014 (and probably before that too), the CDRF website reported that, "Even more surprisingly, all four participants experienced significant improvements in autonomic functions, including bladder, bowel and sexual function, as well as temperature regulation."

"An unexpected success story". Really? I'd like more info. PART I

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This is a story about BBS (bladder, bowel, and sexual function) return, but you'll have to stay with me a bit to follow.

I was pleased to read the following stories in Newsweek (Paralysed man surprises scientists by standing and moving on his own) and Science Daily (Individual with complete spinal cord injury regains voluntary motor function). Very short summary; extended activity-based training with epidural stimulation resulted in the ability for a man with a complete spinal cord injury to stand and move without stimulation six years post injury. The study was done at the University of Louisville in Kentucky and funded by CDRF (Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation), and others through their Big Idea project.

Help Wanted! Curing paralysis together

Hello. I'm now currently working on the next blog article, it's about peeing and other things that many of us with a screwed up spinal cord can't do so well.

I've been in touch with some interesting people who are helping me understand some facts for the next article, so please hold on about a week or so.

In the meantime, I'm always looking for help in running this blog, in fact, I'm even considering changing it over to a podcast or even a vlog.