Stem cell treatment for peripheral neuropathy - any good?

Posted by nightgig @nightgig, Sep 25, 2018

I just attended a very convincing presentation of stem cell treatment for peripheral neuropathy. It showed that the symptoms can virtually disappear in a month or so. If its so good, why can't I find anything that the Mayo Clinic is doing? Also, the Mayo website says that 'some medications are possible causes of peripheral neuropathy, but doesn't say which ones! The presentation today said the culprit was statin drugs. I have been taking statins for 20 years or more. Should I stop?

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@johnbishop

Nice picture! I always wanted to play the sax but I've only been blessed with listening skills.☺ I can understand your concerns with PN with the possibility of not being able to play the saxophone anymore. My biggest fear was losing the ability to drive and just plain walking. Hoping you find something that works for you.

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Don't know if you watch America's Got Talent, but in just this season that came to a close last week there was a young man - a violinist (albeit not the kind of violinist I think of when I hear 'violinist') - but he was young, and said he had neuropathy, and then stated that he hoped to play as long as he was able - he was pretty amazing!!!!

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I have a combination of Asteoarthritis and Peripheral Neuropathy. The stiffness I have in my hands is joined by the tingling of my PN. I'm not suffering - yet. However, the progression hasn't been researched yet on my part. I'm 80, and enjoying otherwise good health, so I'm not complaining. I perform for folks in retirement homes, memory care facilities and nursing homes and feel akin to those folks, many of whom are not in good shape. I actually feel that its a privilege to play for them! They love music and are a great audience, ev ery time.
I was fortunate to have traveled around the U.S. A. and in many countries, performing in castles, concert halls, pubs, and famous venues for five years. During that time I realized that at age 68 I was very fortunate to still be working as a traveling musician. Now, in retirement I am dealing with the same PN I had during those years but now with my hands being affected by the PN and not just the Arthritis. As we grow older new problems pop up, as we all know. The difference is always the degree to which we are limited in doing what we enjoy and to what degree it restrains us. I'm personally hard to restrain, I've found, as it seems I'm an eternal optimist.

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@nightgig

I have a combination of Asteoarthritis and Peripheral Neuropathy. The stiffness I have in my hands is joined by the tingling of my PN. I'm not suffering - yet. However, the progression hasn't been researched yet on my part. I'm 80, and enjoying otherwise good health, so I'm not complaining. I perform for folks in retirement homes, memory care facilities and nursing homes and feel akin to those folks, many of whom are not in good shape. I actually feel that its a privilege to play for them! They love music and are a great audience, ev ery time.
I was fortunate to have traveled around the U.S. A. and in many countries, performing in castles, concert halls, pubs, and famous venues for five years. During that time I realized that at age 68 I was very fortunate to still be working as a traveling musician. Now, in retirement I am dealing with the same PN I had during those years but now with my hands being affected by the PN and not just the Arthritis. As we grow older new problems pop up, as we all know. The difference is always the degree to which we are limited in doing what we enjoy and to what degree it restrains us. I'm personally hard to restrain, I've found, as it seems I'm an eternal optimist.

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Great attitude! A glass half full is always better than a glass half empty ☺

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@johnbishop

Great attitude! A glass half full is always better than a glass half empty ☺

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I saw that mayo doing stem cells for osteoauritis. Ins does not pay. It was a video from one of the Mayo Clinic’s. Regenerative medecine in Florida. Can’t remember drs name.

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I don't like to be the one to say this, but my understanding is that stem cell treatment has never cured any illness. I guess those in the know feel that the benefits of trying it are going to suddenly blossom in to success. But as of today, stem cell therapy is unproven, but that doesn't stop people from promising miracle cures in some countries. I read on Quora.com that someone asked the question, "Does stem cell therapy work?" One response was, "The short answer is no. We do not have a good enough protocol to safely inject stem cells and control their differentiation in vivo."

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@usernameca

I don't like to be the one to say this, but my understanding is that stem cell treatment has never cured any illness. I guess those in the know feel that the benefits of trying it are going to suddenly blossom in to success. But as of today, stem cell therapy is unproven, but that doesn't stop people from promising miracle cures in some countries. I read on Quora.com that someone asked the question, "Does stem cell therapy work?" One response was, "The short answer is no. We do not have a good enough protocol to safely inject stem cells and control their differentiation in vivo."

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This was dr Shane Shapiro at Mayo in Florida. They used stem cells in the knees. For knee injuries.

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@johnbishop

Hello @nightgig, welcome to Connect. There is a lot of evidence available on statins and other drugs that are linked to neuropathy. Here are some links to more information on drugs that cause neuropathy. I have small fiber peripheral neuropathy but only have the numbness and no pain. I did tell my doctor I would not take statins when she wanted me to take them to lower my cholesterol levels. I said I would work on lowering the numbers by changing my diet.

The implications of statin induced peripheral neuropathy
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3103035/

Statin Neuropathy Masquerading as Diabetic Autoimmune Polyneuropathy
-- http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/8/2082.1

Medication Induced Neuropathy
-- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-003-0043-8

I have not seen any evidence of the successful stem cell treatment for peripheral neuropathy. The last meeting of the Minnesota Neuropathy Association had a speaker William Hoffman of the U of M Medical School who gave an update on stem cell treatment and how far along it is relating to peripheral neuropathy. I attached the notes I took at the meeting along with some links I added with additional information on the speakers references.

There is also a consumer update from the FDA:

FDA Warns About Stem Cell Therapies
-- https://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm286155.htm

@nightgig can I ask what type of peripheral neuropathy you have and what you are doing for treatment now?

John

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I have the pain on the tops of my feet like electricity is shooting in my upper feet then shooting up my leg then sometimes very painful. I had gone to a seminar on Stem Cells. The name of the place is CoreMedical , Vitality Healthcare center for regerative medicine. They are located in Pittston. PA. Dr. Neil H. Riordan. PA, PhDis a scientist and developer of regenerative medicine therapeutics, with more than ,70 peer ,-reviewed publications and more than 40 patents and patent applications. I have an appointment on January 6th for a medical screening to determine if I am a candidate for Regenerative medicine. I am in need to find a way to make myself pain free.

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@fran18

I have the pain on the tops of my feet like electricity is shooting in my upper feet then shooting up my leg then sometimes very painful. I had gone to a seminar on Stem Cells. The name of the place is CoreMedical , Vitality Healthcare center for regerative medicine. They are located in Pittston. PA. Dr. Neil H. Riordan. PA, PhDis a scientist and developer of regenerative medicine therapeutics, with more than ,70 peer ,-reviewed publications and more than 40 patents and patent applications. I have an appointment on January 6th for a medical screening to determine if I am a candidate for Regenerative medicine. I am in need to find a way to make myself pain free.

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Hi @fran18, Welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing. Please let us know if it works for you. I've never read about a successful treatment of using stem cell therapy to repair damaged nerves. Hope it works for you.

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I went to a stem cell presentation by CoreMedical, also. The presenter was not a doctor or scientist, and he did not provide any kind of good scientific explanations for how it works. The CoreMedical doctor is just a chiropractor. Everything I have read after the presentation is that there are many so-called stem cell clnics springing up to try to make money off of the name. The research says it may work, but it could also have many bad side effects like cancer. They just haven't done enough research yet. You can try if you want, but I would be very careful. I made an appointment with CoreMedical, but then cancelled after reading more about it. Good luck.

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@12061948

I saw that mayo doing stem cells for osteoauritis. Ins does not pay. It was a video from one of the Mayo Clinic’s. Regenerative medecine in Florida. Can’t remember drs name.

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Yes, I think it is worth a try for something that cannot be cured otherwise. I am going for small fiber nerve damage in the skin sometime in September or October (2020). I hope it works, because I will be spending close to 8,000.00 Injections are doing a lot for people. There is also a tremendous amount of doctors doing stem cell for the spine. It must do something, otherwise, I don't think so many places would be doing it. I am getting injections (instead of IV therapy, which is standard for neuropathy). in the skin. My problem is basically in the skin. I got it from a medication. Very severe this time. I hope it works!!!

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