Stem cell vs TKR

Posted by cschultz8 @cschultz8, Feb 3, 2020

Has anyone done the stem cell injection? Are you satisfied? Did you end up doing TKR eventually.I would rather pay $5,000 out of pocket than do the surgery.

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A friend of mine went to a seminar about this. They were told that stem cell injections don’t work very well for people over 65 and are not recommended. Your doctor may think differently.

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I had stem cell on my left knee. It did not work for me. I was near bone on bone and over 65. I paid $6000 which at the time, I felt was worth it if it worked. I ended up having a total knee replacement 6 months later and I'm very glad I did.

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@cschultz8 I had stem cell therapy, a set of three with first PRP (plasma rich platelets, spun out of your own blood), then stem cells made from my own fat cells (unpleasant but not painful scraping process for 40 minutes while inhaling laughing gas), the PRP again. It worked great for two years. I'm over 65 and also had bone-on-bone. Pain not totally gone but for all practical purposes gone. Then I fell hard and my knee got hit very badly. I could have tried the stem cells again but the problem is no insurance will cover it, and uncertainty. So I went with Makoplasty TKR. I'm a bit over two months out and not yet willing to give a final statement on how successful that was. My cost for the three procedures (PRP and stem cells) was close to $8,000. If the cost is not prohibitive to you, it's worth a try. Make sure you get a very competent and reliable provider to do this, as there are many scams out there. A good doctor will tell you if you are not a candidate. Certainly the recovery is much easier than for TKR! Best of luck.

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I considered the stem cell injections but decided to try the PRP first. Unfortunately the PRP didn’t work for me and I wound up with TKR instead. I was 67 at the time. I am now 15 months out from the TKR and getting ready to have my other knee done.

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@saeternes

@cschultz8 I had stem cell therapy, a set of three with first PRP (plasma rich platelets, spun out of your own blood), then stem cells made from my own fat cells (unpleasant but not painful scraping process for 40 minutes while inhaling laughing gas), the PRP again. It worked great for two years. I'm over 65 and also had bone-on-bone. Pain not totally gone but for all practical purposes gone. Then I fell hard and my knee got hit very badly. I could have tried the stem cells again but the problem is no insurance will cover it, and uncertainty. So I went with Makoplasty TKR. I'm a bit over two months out and not yet willing to give a final statement on how successful that was. My cost for the three procedures (PRP and stem cells) was close to $8,000. If the cost is not prohibitive to you, it's worth a try. Make sure you get a very competent and reliable provider to do this, as there are many scams out there. A good doctor will tell you if you are not a candidate. Certainly the recovery is much easier than for TKR! Best of luck.

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Who did your stem cell therapy? I had mine done by a Regenexx provider a year ago, no positive results and Dr. was negligent to recommend physical therapy following procedure, which I understand now could have made a difference in my results. Have been doing physical therapy now since last May, and am thinking about TKR, I am 62.

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I had mine done a year ago by a Regenexx provider. Paid $6,000 for prolotherapy, bone marrow stem cell aspiration,then prp.Have seen very little if any positive results. He never prescribed physical therapy so I was left with a lot of scar tissue, and have been in physical therapy since May. I would save your money and have the TKR.

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i did stem cells years ago. I do have the stem cell brace that really works. I do have pain sometimes but in my right knee i had tkr and it hurts all the time and now it has come lose after 5 years. I have found that PRP tends to make knee feel better. I am 79, feel like 50 and ride my bike a lot in the summer. Do not like to walk. Play golf and garden. I am holding off doing TKR as i had such a poor experience with the first one. No easy answers. I went with regenexx dr.
No question it is expensive. If you have bone on bone do a TKR. Stems will not help you. Your DR should advise you. Maybe someday i will have to do TKR and then how do you garden? Getting on your knees is painful.

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@cobweb

i did stem cells years ago. I do have the stem cell brace that really works. I do have pain sometimes but in my right knee i had tkr and it hurts all the time and now it has come lose after 5 years. I have found that PRP tends to make knee feel better. I am 79, feel like 50 and ride my bike a lot in the summer. Do not like to walk. Play golf and garden. I am holding off doing TKR as i had such a poor experience with the first one. No easy answers. I went with regenexx dr.
No question it is expensive. If you have bone on bone do a TKR. Stems will not help you. Your DR should advise you. Maybe someday i will have to do TKR and then how do you garden? Getting on your knees is painful.

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What is a stem cell brace?

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@debzom

What is a stem cell brace?

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it was prescribed by the Dr and it has hinges on the side and it fits on the calf and goes to the thigh. You can tighten or make it lose to fit you. I like it as it gives you a secure feeling.

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@saeternes

@cschultz8 I had stem cell therapy, a set of three with first PRP (plasma rich platelets, spun out of your own blood), then stem cells made from my own fat cells (unpleasant but not painful scraping process for 40 minutes while inhaling laughing gas), the PRP again. It worked great for two years. I'm over 65 and also had bone-on-bone. Pain not totally gone but for all practical purposes gone. Then I fell hard and my knee got hit very badly. I could have tried the stem cells again but the problem is no insurance will cover it, and uncertainty. So I went with Makoplasty TKR. I'm a bit over two months out and not yet willing to give a final statement on how successful that was. My cost for the three procedures (PRP and stem cells) was close to $8,000. If the cost is not prohibitive to you, it's worth a try. Make sure you get a very competent and reliable provider to do this, as there are many scams out there. A good doctor will tell you if you are not a candidate. Certainly the recovery is much easier than for TKR! Best of luck.

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Would you recommend a place for thePRP and Stem cell for knees- wouldn’t Mayo Clinic do this? Thanks

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