Stem cells for chronic lumbar pain

Hello @salamanca, Welcome to Connect. I've never had any spine surgeries but do have degenerative disc disease and lower back and neck issues that affect my walking. I'm 81 but really not wanting to have any more surgeries. Stem cell treatment sounds promising according to this NIH article from March 2023.

-- Helping the Body Heal Itself: Injected Stem Cells for Back Pain - Trying to coax the body into repairing vertebral discs: https://heal.nih.gov/news/stories/injected-stem-cells-back-pain

Have you done any research into the cost or locations doing this type of treatment?

I had two stem cell treatments last year for arthritis. One for cervical spine and the other for hip.

Cervical spine has advanced degenerative disc disease with multiple osteophytes and herniated discs. Treatment was BMAC -Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate. Cells were harvested from my ilium and injected into the facet joints on both sides of C4-7. Done under anesthesia, it takes about an hour. There was a suture for the harvest site in my low back to the side. No sutures in neck. The important thing to remember is to STOP all nsaids and other medications for reducing inflammation. That is the hardest thing for stem cells but vital for the procedure to work. Inflammation is necessary for the stem cells to do their functions of repair and producing chemokines that combat over production of inflammatory cytokines. Even supplements that combat inflammation must be completely out of your system for 4 weeks before the procedure and at least 2 months afterwards. So be prepared for a lot of pain/flare for 3 months if you have autoimmune arthritis. I didn't know this until after i had bilateral hip injections of steroids. That was enough to negate the stem cell activity in my neck. BMAC is covered by most insurance companies, nany drs aren't aware of this. Contact your insurer directly to ask them.
My second procedure was an adipose fat derived stem cell transplant taken from my abdomen by liposuction and injected into my hip for torn soft tissue repair. That was 2 months ago and my body went into full flare mode immediately. I'm only just beginning to be able to walk without a cane short distances. It has been incredibly painful and i feel like i may as well just had a traditional surgery for it. I have since learned that liposuction is major surgery in terms if the body's response and has a 3 month recovery. I don't know if there is another simpler way to harvest adipose fat cells. This one is not covered by insurance.
Please feel free to ask anymore questions you may have on this matter. There are not a lot of cases for stem cell treatments for arthritis. I came on this site hoping to find answers about whole body flare and rejection of Autologous cell transplants. So far, in my 5 years' research into whole body Psoriatic Spondylitis Mayo has not been a helpful source of information. I post in detail on this topic under the same name, Pitac, at MySpondylitisteam. Com. Best of luck! Please overlook typos. This site doesn't allow for proofreading and corrections,

Thanks John. I have been researching stem cell developments for some years. I have now an appointment for a virtual discussion of my case with a clinic in the Caribbean on the 9th Jan. This clinic has tried stem cell injections into the disc but without success I understand. I shall see if they have expectation of an alternative approach to minimize pain in the lumbar an hip.
Mac

I have been told my multiple experts that stem cells and AI will be the things that really change the trajectory of the treatment of chronic back and other musculoskeletal issues. I have been told that there is little to no evidence based high quality research at this point to help direct spinal care treatment so we're all just guessing and hoping. AI should help with that in the future. There are pretty compelling indicators that stem cell could be a game changer. Unfortunately, after looking into to this the only stem cell treatment that is effective for the back (hip and knee may be different) is using fetal stem cell cells ( from miscarriages)which is not permitted in this country. My pain doctor uses stem cells here for knee but said I'd be wasting my money because it's not the effective stem cells for spine. He urged me to go to a clinic in Columbia where they use fetal stem cells. He's had patients go there with excellent results.

Thanks John. I wonder what Colombian clinic he was told had good results for back pain? One additional question relates to age and efficacy in octogenarians, for example.

ok not john, kathy.... but i wrote the post. i'm not sure but i'm no spring chicken and he recommended this for me. the other "expert" i went to hear lecture said that stem cells...the real ones...are probably the only "real fix" for my spinal issues. the rest is a lot of hoping with much disappointment. if you want the name of the doctor who has been to this clinic message me.

Thanks Kathy. If the doctor had favorable reports of a clinic using stem cell therapy for spinal pain I will be interested to follow through.

You would need to contact his office and try to set up a virtual consult if he's wiling to do that. He has been to the clinic in Columbia so he probably can guide you but I assume you would need to become a patient, Let me know if you're interested and if so, where I can send you his info. I a very seriously considering this. It is a travesty that this is not available here.

Yes, I am interested but I am not a U S resident so could not become a patient. No skin off his nose in providing the clinic name in Colombia, surely?

Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be that helpful although he is knowledgeable. If you want to message me I'd be happy to provide his contact info. Where do you live? (this is available in other countries I believe) He is adamant and my research confirms that it must be fetal stem cells...that everything offered in the USA at this time would be a waste of money.