Northern Michigan's News LeaderHealthy Living: Suffocating Damaged Nerves Back to Life

Healthy Living: Suffocating Damaged Nerves Back to Life

Posted: Updated:

Every year, more than 10,000 Americans suffer a spinal cord injury. For some, it means total paralysis. For others, it's all about finding treatments that can help improve their strength and function. Now, an experimental rehab therapy has patients breathing their way to recovery. Robyn Haines has your Healthy Living.

27-year-old Drew Durrence is all about overcoming challenges. Eight years ago, he injured his spinal cord in a dirt bike accident. Now, he's part of a unique trial.

Physical Therapist and Biomedical Engineer Doctor Randy Trumbower is studying how oxygen deprivation can trigger molecular changes that excite, or wake up, the nervous system. Patients alternately breathe air with low, nine percent oxygen and normal, 21 percent oxygen. In early trials, this oxygen deprivation therapy also helped patients use muscles they couldn't use before.

The study is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S. patients who had the therapy for ven consecutive days had improvements in strength that lasted for a month or more.

  • Most Popular StoriesMost Popular Stories

  • Saturday, May 19 2012 11:35 PM EDT2012-05-20 03:35:56 GMT
    The D.N.R. reports that a wildfire on a munitions range at Camp Grayling is contained. It was reported around six p.m Saturday night, and covered about 80 acres before it was over. Some 35 firefighters
    The D.N.R. reports that a wildfire on a munitions range at Camp Grayling is contained. It was reported around six p.m Saturday night, and covered about 80 acres before it was over. Some 35 firefighters
  • Friday, May 18 2012 10:54 PM EDT2012-05-19 02:54:18 GMT
    A statewide scam with victims right here in northern Michigan. The attorney general says a Holly woman ran a foreclosure-rescue scam. They believe she stole $250,000 from at least 60 victims. Rebecca
    A statewide scam with victims right here in northern Michigan. The attorney general says a Holly woman ran a foreclosure-rescue scam. They believe she stole $250,000 from at least 60 victims. Rebecca
  • Sunday, May 20 2012 6:31 PM EDT2012-05-20 22:31:01 GMT
    The 40th Annual Blessing of the Bikes brought people from all over the country to Baldwin in Lake County. Bikers started lining the streets Friday and today was the culmination of the festivities with
    The 40th Annual Blessing of the Bikes brought people from all over the country to Baldwin in Lake County. Bikers started lining the streets Friday and today was the culmination of the festivities with
  • Friday, May 18 2012 8:03 PM EDT2012-05-19 00:03:38 GMT
    They issued a warrant for her arrest last spring, and since then she has been on the run. A former coworker says Kerrie Ann Gottschall stole the money when they worked at Pioneer/Cadillac Broach in Leroy
    They issued a warrant for her arrest last spring, and since then she has been on the run. A former coworker says Kerrie Ann Gottschall stole the money when they worked at Pioneer/Cadillac Broach in Leroy
  • Authorities in western Michigan say a car with six teenagers aboard went out of control and crashed on an interstate highway exit ramp, killing two of them and seriously injuring two others.
    Authorities in western Michigan say a car with six teenagers aboard went out of control and crashed on an interstate highway exit ramp, killing two of them and seriously injuring two others.
  • Friday, May 18 2012 1:37 PM EDT2012-05-18 17:37:38 GMT
    The Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a sighting of a cougar in Baraga Count in the Upper Peninsula. A picture was taken of the cougar on May 5th, then the DNR Wildlife Division staff visited
    The Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a sighting of a cougar in Baraga Count in the Upper Peninsula. A picture was taken of the cougar on May 5th, then the DNR Wildlife Division staff visited
  • Police have released the name of a 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot at his grandparents' home in a gated community in Oakland County.
    Police have released the name of a 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot at his grandparents' home in a gated community in Oakland County.
  • Saturday, May 19 2012 6:26 PM EDT2012-05-19 22:26:28 GMT
    Some of our Northern Michigan Veterans took the open waters of Lake Michigan today to try their hand at fishing. The 3rd Annual Tight Lines for Troops Fishing Tournament brought out veterans and hundreds
    Some of our Northern Michigan Veterans took the open waters of Lake Michigan today to try their hand at fishing. The 3rd Annual Tight Lines for Troops Fishing Tournament brought out veterans and hundreds
  • Friday, May 18 2012 8:02 PM EDT2012-05-19 00:02:49 GMT
    Dan Griffith owns Shooters Indoor Gun and Archery Range, the shop has a full security system to keep these weapons safe, but that didn't stop a thief from smashing this door to get his hands on six of
    Dan Griffith owns Shooters Indoor Gun and Archery Range, the shop has a full security system to keep these weapons safe.
  • Friday, May 18 2012 7:11 PM EDT2012-05-18 23:11:17 GMT
    Cadillac Police arrested 2 people in connection with a robbery. It happened shortly afternoon today. A woman was riding her bicycle on East North Street near Mitchell Street. A man and a woman got out
    Cadillac Police arrested 2 people in connection with a robbery. It happened shortly afternoon today. A woman was riding her bicycle on East North Street near Mitchell Street. A man and a woman got out