Mesynchymal Stem Cells to treat Neuropathy

Hello @mramme, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I've had small fiber peripheral neuropathy for 20+ years but I only have numbness and have found no drugs that address that symptom for me. I have no medical background or training but I have yet to hear of a documented successful stem cell treatment for neuropathy. I did find a sort of promising article but it sounds like there is a lot of danger signals when you read through it and it's only discussing diabetic neuropathy.

National Institutes of Health - Mesenchymal stem cells to treat diabetic neuropathy: a long and strenuous way from bench to the clinic
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4979500/

I also attached some notes I took at a Minnesota Neuropathy Association meeting last August where the speaker was discussing the outlook of stem cell treatments for neuropathy. The last section of the notes has links to why it's not ready for prime time treatment yet. Also the FDA has put out several warnings on these clinics popping up all over the U.S.

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

Are you able to share some of your symptoms and what you have tried for treatments?

I have had burning feet and hands and atrophy of my right calf muscle for 40 plus years. I've had numerous tests at Mayo clinic over the past 25 years and no definite diagnosis. I am considering stem cell treatment as a possible trial with no know side effects. I've not heard of side effects.

Hello @wever69 -- Welcome to Connect. I also have neuropathy - my diagnosis is idiopathic small fiber PN. There is another discussion on Connect that you might be interested where stem cell therapy is being discussed.

> Groups > Neuropathy > Stem Cell Therapy for Neuropathy
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stem-cell-therapy-for-neuropahy/

I have no medical background or training but have done a lot of reading/research on stem cell therapy for neuropathy and from what I could find out it's just not there yet. Also, it's not covered by any insurance and the smaller clinics involved with the practice are not approved by the FDA. I think that the reason there are no known side effects is due to small numbers of people who may have tried the therapy. If you decide to get the treatment, can you let us know how it goes?

Hello @madera, Welcome to Connect. There is another discussion on stem cell therapy for neuropathy where you can meet other members discussing stem cell therapy and your post will receive more visibility. I'm tagging our moderator @lisalucier to see if she can combine your post with the following discussion:

> Groups > Neuropathy > Stem Cell Therapy for Neuropathy
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stem-cell-therapy-for-neuropahy/

I have no medical training or background but have done a lot of reading on stem cell therapy for neuropathy and have not heard of any real success stories that can be verified. Here is a website that gives some helpful information on stem cell therapy as related to diabetes.

I also found a few other articles that may be helpful.

‘Amazing’ New Stem Cell Treatment for Neuropathy (July 2015)
— https://www.painnewsnetwork.org/stories/2015/7/12/amazing-stem-cell-treatment-for-neuropathy

National Institutes of Health – Mesenchymal stem cells to treat diabetic neuropathy: a long and strenuous way from bench to the clinic
— https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4979500/

Are you considering stem cell treatment for your diabetes associated neuropathy?

Do you know of any good results foot neuropathy (diabetes) using umbilical cord stem cells (Whartons Jelly)

I wouldn’t trust them. If those places were successful, your neurologist would be aware of it. Mine said they just want your money. I think we would need to know where they are getting the stem cells.