STEM CELL THERAPY FOR MY HIP AND KNEE???

Exploring PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT SURGERY in my KNEE and HIP.......

Five years ago I was told I am "a candidate for" a LEFT KNEE replacement.

Last month I was told that I am "a candidate for" a RIGHT HIP replacement.

I'M FALLING APART!!

For the past 5 years, I've been having my knee treated with Orthovisc injections and cortisone shots. So far, so good - until I did a "face plant" in France last September for no reason (nothing broken thankfully) and then fell again this past June (again in France) landing on my hand/fingers, (thankfully nothing broken again - but still "healing"). The most recent "stumble" made me think, when I turned abruptly each time, perhaps my knee gave out. I certainly don't need any broken bones, SOOOOO..... time to explore my options.

Being a real BABY and NOT wanting SURGERY, I decided to explore STEM CELL THERAPY to regrow the cartilage that's wearing away from OSTEOARTHRITIS (hereditary) in both my knee AND hip. Perhaps this would buy me a few years before surgery.......

The INTERNET - what a beautiful thing....... hours and hours and hours of researching and reading and compiling my findings recently, so I could come to a decision about the effectiveness of STEM CELL THERAPY.

This week I attended a STEM CELL SEMINAR, met with my PRIMARY PHYSICIAN to discuss the pros and cons and spoke to a nurse at BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL in Boston. I also had a discussion with a friend's sister who had stem cell injections in her knee - that didn't work.

From what I've read and heard, the younger you are, the more dramatic results you'll probably have, because younger cells replicate faster. Injuries, rather than "wear-and-tear" might show better results too. But that's just what I'm gathering.

Seems that there is not enough "SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE" yet, therefore NOT many MD's are recommending it, but there ARE CLINICAL TRIALS going on. I'm energized by the future of REGENERATIVE MEDICINE and have high hopes for its future use. However, currently STEM CELL THERAPY seems to be administered mostly by Alternative Medicine MDs and Chiropractic offices. Most are using stem cells from AMNIOTIC FLUID, donated by the mother after child delivery - the stem cells being harvested and frozen in a lab for sale to practices who will administer the shot later. Not covered by insurance, I can pay out-of-pocket $3,000 - $5,000 (in the USA) for ONE KNEE with no guarantee of results, IF I want to try it.

If you want to use YOUR OWN STEM CELLS, they must be harvested from your fat cells via liposuction and/or from bone marrow in the hip. These procedures add an element of risk too, of course. And at my older age (64 - ok, is that really possible?!!), they would mix my own stem cells with amniotic stem cells that will multiply faster for the regrowth process. EMBRYONIC stem cell usage is ILLEGAL in the United States, THANKFULLY!!

My knee doesn't have "POTHOLES" to fill, it needs "RESURFACING". Stem cells seem to work best when "filling potholes" for cell regrowth.

The last step in my "research" - I have a call in to my Orthopedic doc at the ROTHMAN INSTITUTE (Dr. Good), asking if he thinks I'm "a candidate for stem cell therapy". Dr. Tucker at ROTHMAN INSTITUTE in Egg Harbor, NJ administers it.

If Dr. Good says I'm too far gone (typically if replacement is recommended or if you are already bone on bone, you are too far gone....), then I guess I'm going to have to "bite the bullet". At his suggestion I would replace the hip first, probably next year.

BUT naturally I will have to coordinate any surgery with my beloved travel schedule..........

JOAN

REMEMBERING MY FRIEND, BETTY ANN

Let me start out by saying that I'm VERY SPIRITUAL. I believe in GOD and ANGELS and our SPECTACULAR, MIRACULOUS, MYSTERIOUS, EVER-PRESENT, RESPONSIVE and GENEROUS UNIVERSE.

I've always had an aversion to "organized religion" for myself, but I totally understand the need and desire and commitment for others to be a part of something that provides not only spiritual comfort, but inspirational readings, music, consistency and a social aspect as well. My HEART and SOUL are FILLED with all of these aspects (ok, maybe not "consistency".......).

I've never read nor studied the BIBLE (nor any other sacred religious book). I've been encouraged to read excerpts through the years and have taken them seriously and am often "moved" by what it says.

All of this is a preface to my short story about a BIBLE reading at a service I attended this week to celebrate the life of my friend, BETTY ANN at the 1-Year Anniversary of her death. BETTY ANN started this family tradition on the 1-Year Anniversary of the death of her son, BART. She wanted a "CELEBRATION" of his life, despite the family's ongoing grief and the hole in her heart that would never, ever heal.

So, this week at the CELEBRATION of BETTY ANN'S LIFE, I was truly moved by a BIBLE passage that was read by her oldest of 4 sons, BRAD (Philippians 4:6-9).  He told us that his Mom repeatedly reminded BRAD of this passage when he needed it most, many years ago.

Interestingly enough, a 11/17/2014 HUFFINGTON POST article points out:

• "According to data released by AMAZON about the most highlighted passage in Kindle ebooks, the most popular passage from the BIBLE is one on reducing anxiety and finding trust in GOD. (Philippians 4:6-7)" 

A few verses longer, here is the passage BRAD read to us, which I DO try to put into practice every day:

• "Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you."

I miss my friend BETTY ANN, one of the smartest and most gutsy women I've known.

JOAN

OUR MORNING (TRUE STORY)

My 12 year old grandniece, GRACE is staying with me for the week to attend CAMP at the local YMCA. Showered, dressed, fed and packed up, GRACE asked to take "the other car" to camp today. Sure. No problem. Of course, CLOVER!!! joins us for the ride each day. The Counselors love to pet her, etc. Normally cars line up and a Counselor checks GRACE in and takes her from the car to her camp group. This morning we arrive to find that check-in is inside (threat of rain) - which means we have to park the car, stand in line and enter the building to check her in. UH OH..... we have CLOVER!!! What do I do? There is NO leash in this car (my bad) and it's far too hot to leave her in the car for even 5 minutes. Time to get creative....... We took GRACE'S TINY bathing suit top and tied it to CLOVER!!!'s collar, to act as a leash. That should work, right? OK - it's unfamiliar territory and CLOVER!!! is not particularly well leash trained yet (clearing my throat - "we're working on it") and she started out like a rocket, pulling on the bathing suit top, stretching it to the max (can you visualize this???). Unable to get her under good control, I decided pretty quickly that this was a bad idea. In addition, I worried about standing in line with all of the kids and adults (CLOVER!!! still jumps on people when she gets excited - We're working on that too.......). Oh my. Back to the car for a PLAN B. Let's untie the bathing suit top from CLOVER!!!'s collar first. Well, at this point, because she had pulled so hard on her "leash", the knot is IMPOSSIBLE to undo. Searching frantically for a sharp object to assist, we came up empty-handed. UGH. Finally, it's 10 min past the drop-off time, so I drive right up to the building, to the "NO PARKING SIGN" and park (RULES BREAKER!!). No one is in line anymore and kids are already dispersing with their Counselors. GRACE ran into the building and brought a Counselor out to the car to have me sign the check-in. Good security there - I like that! It's all good. CLOVER!!! and I are home, the bathing suit knot is now untied (thanks to a Phillips screwdriver) and it's only 9:30 AM. Who needs COFFEE with a start like that, right?!! ENJOY YOUR DAY! JOAN PS Do NOT ask why I didn't get a picture of this!