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I need more cervical surgery and heard several ads on the radio for stem cell surgery or stem cell treatments. It's done with your own bone marrow so there's no ethical issues involved. It sounds interesting, but it's considered experimental by the insurance companies, so everything is out of pocket.
I'm not impressed with what I've read about the results of the treatments so far and was curious if anyone here had a sucessful experience.
I've never done it for my KNEE especially but we have an MD on the radio every week who uses PRP and Stem Cells in his Prolotherapy practice. Stem cells are pricey. But MANY want to avoid surgeries as they can be costly in many ways. Not just money but when things go wrong.
My sister kept waiting for Stem Cells in her battle with MS but she recently lost her battle at 68, never to get a stem cell. Her doctors kept her waiting for them. ummmm
Maybe someone else will report. If money were no issue, I'd do the stem cells. Another MD in the midwest, Ross Hauser does the stem cells too.
Last edited by jaminhealth; 05-15-2017 at 10:00 AM..
I have done prolo & PRP a number of times & am considering stem cells, but I would have to travel a significant distance & as you said, it's not covered by insurance :-(. Neither is PRP or prolo, but the price for those is far less restrictive than the stem cells. My chiropractor (different than the prolo/PRP dr) told me he'd do stem cells before considering surgery & gave me the name of the drs who do it our area, near Boulder, CO. If it wasn't OOP, I would definitely give it a try.
I've been doing regular prolo for 10 yrs: shoulder, back and knees..the last dextrose prolo injection, I believe, in my knee may have caused the infection I just went thru almost 5 months of hospital and rehab and the infection wasn't found until 2.5 months into first rehab. My knee is pretty messed up with OA and I do dread knee surgery. I'll have to check stem cell prices again here...but they are costly and of course insurance does not cover any of it.
Infection can happen with so much we do and surgery for certain.
our son in law did it for his knee. It was very successful but his age was in his favor. My best friend just had it done (about 3 months ago) it was a failure. Luckily she could afford the $4500 it costs, but felt she got taken. This is someone who normally checks everything out. What was never explained to her was: age can prevent the success of using your own stem cells. My advise: check it out carefully and don't get sucked in by promises or questionable advertising.
Good point on the age factor, being younger helps everything to heal better. My gut feeling tells me my knee is too damaged and the age factor.
I have the same feeling about my neck. This will be the second surgery in 13 years. Plus I can't find a doctor seriously interested in discussing stem cell options with me.
I have the same feeling about my neck. This will be the second surgery in 13 years. Plus I can't find a doctor seriously interested in discussing stem cell options with me.
You mean to say no stem cell people in NY area? Every time we do a surgery, our body experiences trauma.
I just heard Marc Darrow, MD who does PRP and Stem Cells. He's on radio call in program every weekend and he gets so many calls from those who still have a lot of problems in spite of surgeries like replacements. He says once body is cut, arthritis sets in. He also says as long as one can bend knee, there is cartlidge in that knee.
Every time I hear him, I get more and more thinking about no knee replacement..IF only for the money, I'd do the stem cells pronto. At least go see him to see if he thinks I'm a candidate.
I live with 3 major complications from hip replacement in 2010. Can't go back.
Of course, insurance SHOULD pay and could it be they work and would put too many surgeons out of the business of surgery. ummmm
I just heard Marc Darrow, MD who does PRP and Stem Cells. He's on radio call in program every weekend and he gets so many calls from those who still have a lot of problems in spite of surgeries like replacements. He says once body is cut, arthritis sets in. He also says as long as one can bend knee, there is cartlidge in that knee.
Every time I hear him, I get more and more thinking about no knee replacement..IF only for the money, I'd do the stem cells pronto. At least go see him to see if he thinks I'm a candidate.
I live with 3 major complications from hip replacement in 2010. Can't go back.
Of course, insurance SHOULD pay and could it be they work and would put too many surgeons out of the business of surgery. ummmm
Yep, of course insurance SHOULD pay for EVERY UNPROVEN medical procedure one can think of right?
I mean what could possibly go wrong with THAT idea???
After all, money does grow on trees so there is no need for responsible oversight of insurance dollars right???
IF stem cell treatment can be PROVEN to be effective the way it promotes itself to be THEN it should be covered by insurance....until then??? Not so much....
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