Severe osteoporosis: Any benefit from stem cell therapy?

Hi @gabesmom594
Welcome to Connect. Here are a few other discussions you may be interested in joining:
- Treating Osteoporosis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hi-im-new-to-the-site-and-am-interested-in-treating-osteoperosis/
- Cost of stem cell therapy at Mayo https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cost-of-stem-cell-therapy-at-mayo/

I changed the title of your discussion thread to make it more specific to your question regarding severe osteoporosis and stem cell therapy. I'm tagging @blundquist and @lynettegable to join you in this conversation.

It can be really difficult to tell which stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine practices are effective and which institutions are offering evidence-based proven therapies. In fact, recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a stern warning against unproven stem cell therapies. The FDA issued these two press statements: https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm573427.htm and https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm573431.htm.

To help people learn more about the proven therapies and the promise of developing therapies, Mayo Clinic offers a free telephone consult service. When you call the consult service, they will tell you about the availability of approved stem cell therapy at Mayo Clinic and elsewhere, and for what conditions. You can learn more about the Consult Service here http://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/patient-care/clinical-services/regenerative-medicine-consult-service or call 1-844-276-2003.

Gabesmom, how do you manage your osteoporosis currently? What do you find the most challenging?

There is a wonderful article on Stem Cell Research in Consumer Reports this month. Unfortunately, you'll need a subscription to read it. It basically says that although many places advertise success with stem cell research, there are very few deceases and/or stem cell therapies/places that are FDA approved. So be very, very careful as CR provides cases where ppl have gone blind or died from such unapproved therapies. The article mentions the Mayo Clinic. The Clinic's response was that their videos are meant to inform only and do not suggest that they are FDA approved for Stem Cell Therapy. So do your research thoroughly.

Hello @jacke71310, and welcome to Connect. Here's the link for the article that you mention:
– https://www.consumerreports.org/medical-treatments-procedures/trouble-with-stem-cell-therapy/

Like any new technology, the long-term effects of stem cell therapy or regenerative medicine is unknown. You are absolutely correct in emphasizing that potential patients need to do thorough research before undergoing this therapy, and should not base their decisions on mere anecdotal evidence. The article notes what the Mayo spokesperson told Health News Review (a nonprofit that subjects health media to peer review), that the web videos are not meant as an advertisement for stem cell therapy but to showcase promising research.

I would sincerely encourage you to also visit Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine webpage – "A unique aspect of Mayo Clinic's Center for Regenerative Medicine is that its activities are not just laboratory based or clinic based. They're both — and everything in between. Efforts in each of the center's programs, which build on Mayo's extensive research resources and clinical practice, span the full spectrum of discovery science, translational research and clinical application." http://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-regenerative-medicine/about/about-center

The potential implications of stem cell based regenerative medicine are huge for medicine. When the positive effects and benefits from research are shown to be significantly higher than the negative effects, and the possibility that it could lead humanity closer to better treatment, it is well worth that effort for so many patients living with chronic illnesses.
@jacke71310, we're so glad you've joined this group, and thank you for sharing the information. How may the Connect community help you?

@kanaazpereira et al, the March 2018 issue of CR Reports contains additional information of importance on medical care and treatment. The main additional article is highlighted only in the table of contents under the title of "The _____ Will See You Now." This 10-page article covers a range of medical concerns from where quality medical care is found to making the most of an office visit. The link to this article is https://www.consumerreports.org/doctors/will-you-see-an-actual-doctor-when-you-go-to-the-doctor/.

Surprisingly, a 2-page subsection of this other article is featured on the magazine cover as "The Health Risks of 'Natural' Medicine," but the broader article is not. The article on "natural" medicine is at https://www.consumerreports.org/doctors/how-natural-doctors-can-hurt-you/.

Two other subarticles also can be accessed directly: 1) https://www.consumerreports.org/doctors/when-do-you-need-a-specialist-doctor/
and 2) https://www.consumerreports.org/doctors/how-to-get-more-from-your-doctor-visit/.