Some people with spinal cord injuries can still experience sexual pleasure via nerve pathways that bypass the spinal cord. This is due to the fact that sensory and motor signals can travel through different paths than those affected by injury. When an individual has a spinal cord injury, they may lose some ability to move their body below the site of the damage, but this does not mean they cannot feel anything. In fact, many individuals with spinal cord injuries are able to feel sensations such as touch, pressure, temperature, and pain just fine. Additionally, sexual stimulation can still be felt even if movement is limited or completely absent. The nervous system relies on various pathways to send messages from one part of the body to another, including the brain. If these pathways remain intact despite the injury, then sexual feelings and arousal can still occur.
Many studies have shown that individuals with spinal cord injuries who were previously paralyzed can regain function after receiving treatment for neurological problems. For example, researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that transplanting stem cells into the spinal cord could help restore sensation in rats with spinal cord injuries. They discovered that when stem cells were injected into damaged areas of the spine, it caused new neurons to grow and repair existing connections between neurons. This led to increased mobility in the animals' hind limbs and improved bladder control.
While there are no treatments currently available that can restore sexual function in people with spinal cord injuries, there are ways to work around these limitations. For instance, couples may need to experiment with different positions or techniques to achieve orgasm during sex. Some individuals may also find relief through vibratory stimulation devices like dildos or clitoral vibrators. Others may benefit from medications like Viagra or Cialis which increase blood flow and improve erections.
Overall, having a spinal cord injury does not mean you cannot enjoy sexual pleasure anymore - it simply means that it might take some creativity and effort to get there!