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Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritic Knees

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: 2 hours ago | Replies (298)

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@bonlgd

Hello! I just joined this group and I am scheduled for bilateral TKR at the end of Nov 2016…but,
I had an appt with a regenerative medicine doc at a clinic about placental stem cell injections in both knees that is leaving me confused about what to do! I would love to have this done but I’m unsure of the REAL outcome of this procedure compared to Tkr! This Dr says that cartilage will regrow and the knees will heal to some degree, but I cannot find any info in online research that states stem cells can make cartilage regrow! I’m concerned about the high cost of the shots esp if it doesn’t work and it’s not guaranteed! They will repeat the injections 6 mos later if I’m unhappy with the results at no extra cost. I’m also concerned about how long this effect may last and if my arthritis will come back in the knee joints within 5-10 yrs.
I wanted to know if anyone has tried stem cell shots a few years ago that have proven to last over time? Online research implies cartilage cannot easily regrow YET, but probably in the future! Also seems there have been no large studies done with stem cell for knee arthritis. With Tkr it’s a done deal, outcome is assured, new knees that last 15-20 or more years! Albeit with pain, meds, and long recovery, etc!

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Replies to "Hello! I just joined this group and I am scheduled for bilateral TKR at the end..."

So are you saying you had to relax for 4 weeks. I did not know that. My knee is bone on bone but now I use a brace for volleyball and walking on hilly streets. The brace pushes the knee to open up so it can receive stem cells. To all, Is this typical?
We must make a push for insurance co. to pay instead of all the $$$$$ knee replacements.

So are you saying you had to relax for 4 weeks. I did not know that. My knee is bone on bone but now I use a brace for volleyball and walking on hilly streets. The brace Pushes the Knee to OPEN up so it can receive stem cells.

We must make a push for insurance co. to pay instead of all the $$,$$$ knee replacements.

as i said before, my experience via an 80 yr. old patient is that it was quackery, and very expensive out of the states. (Mexico).

It did not work for heart valve condition nor for arthritic knees!

I'm trying to decide/gather information about stem cell therapy for grade 4 osteoarthritis in the hip. I would like to hear from people who have had stem cell injections and how effective it was. Why stem cells are usually taken from bone marrow instead of fat which supposedly has many more cells? How long is it expected to last? I would appreciate hearing from all who have any comments--thank you!

I had stem cells put in my knee at Mayo in Rochester. I saw a video of dr Rafael Sierra from Mayo at Rochester so i know he does do them. I asked him about doing it in my hip, i have doctored with Sierra for quite some time and he explained it would not help with my condition but would be worth your time to check out

I also had stem cells on my back, and I am so glad. I dislike surgery and pain pills. So many friends have had surgery and it has not worked. The best thing about stem cells for knee or back is it takes little time and you go home. Back was half hour. Knee is longer as the doctors extract the stem cells from you hip and mix it with your blood. That takes three hours, then ultra sound where the stem cells are injected in the knee. Needed a cane to go home. Next day I returned for one small injection, then home and rest. Winter for me is best time, as I laid around, read,watch tv etc. took me 13 days when I noticed no pain. Nancy lopez, the pro golfer , did it before me , and she said on tv it took her 10 days. She is back playing golf. Me to.
I first found out about stem cells from Mayo Clinic webinar on its impact on arthritis. My only caution is to do your research and be careful who you work with. In my area a chiropractor is doing it and I have heard negative news. I used Regenexx as that is who trained my doctors. They are private. They publish their research and give you ages, sex, of their patients. I have contacted the, and they send me weekly articles.
Downside is insurance covers everything except procedure. It seems insurance would rather pay $60,000 for knee replacement then a $7,000 knee or $1200 back. After my experience with knee replacement I used ira. My kids won't get that. Good luck, tough decision. Have many friends who have done knees,hip, ankles, arthritis.

Have a friend who had success with hips and stem cells. Local doctor said they are having 50% success rate. Talked with him last night. Said he went skiing. So, seems it's a roll of the dice.

What was wrong with your back? Anything to do with stenosis? Thx for sharing

I understand that they get 25% cells out of belly fat. Less from bone marrow. Why don't Drs. just take it from belly?

L4, L5 rubbing on the nerve. They took out blood, spun it in a machine, next day injected it and went home. Amazing