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