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Any experience with Stem Cell treatment?

Greg

Greg

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Grand Junction, CO
We have a big thread about Lasik, figured we could chat about stem cell therapy.

My shoulders are both in terrible shape, I've had surgery on one and I still have issues after surgery. The pain effects my sleep, I do not sleep well at all, end up tossing and turning all night long, which effects my daytime mental state. I also struggle to work overhead after a few minutes, which effects my work and personal projects. Riding motorcycles or bikes is out of the question.

I've looked at both State-side treatments as well as CPI, which does treatments over the border in Mexico, where they can use stem cells from umbilical cords.


Stem cell treatments aren't covered under insurance, so you have to pay out of pocket and it's not cheap. I'm hearing $3-4k per shot in the States and $10-20k per shot at CPI. And its not a guaranteed fix either, seems to be a lot of variables if it'll work in individual situations.

All that said, anyone have experience with Stem Cell treatments?
 
R

rholbrook

Well-Known Member
Location
Kaysville, Ut
A guy I have known for a lot of years had it on his knee. 9 months later, had his knee replaced. He was hoping it would work for him but it didn't. He was in his very late 70s when he had it done if that makes any difference.
 
anderson750

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
I know a couple people who have had stem cell therapies done. One of them is the guy I referenced in the other thread to get treatments for psoriatic arthritis. He goes to Tijuana every 6 months. I don’t know the specifics of his treatment but know the procedure is not approved in the US. He says it had made a major difference in his health. I know another guy whose wife has had treatments done in Provo with great success.

I have thought about looking into it for my shoulders, but haven’t yet.
 
N-Smooth

N-Smooth

Smooth Gang Founding Member
Location
UT
I’m not sure if it would be helpful for your particular brand of shoulder injury but my dad got hyaluronic acid injections in his knees and it was a game changer. IIRC it’s a shoulder thing too so maybe check it out?
 
anderson750

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
Houndoc said:
In dogs at least, benefits are pretty short lived.
Click to expand...
Everything I have seen for humans is probably not much different. It is a therapy and not a cure. In regards to the people I mentioned above, the psoriatic treatment is every 6 months for as long as he chooses to do it. The other person was every few weeks.
 
Rot Box

Rot Box

Diesel and Dust
Supporting Member
Location
Smithfield Utah
Greg, sorry to hear about your shoulders. My lower back is a pos and I get nerve ablations done. My back still sucks but with the ablation I don’t feel the pain if that makes sense. Anyway I wonder if that can be done on a shoulder?
 
Greg

Greg

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Location
Grand Junction, CO
Rot Box said:
Greg, sorry to hear about your shoulders. My lower back is a pos and I get nerve ablations done. My back still sucks but with the ablation I don’t feel the pain if that makes sense. Anyway I wonder if that can be done on a shoulder?
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I'll look into it, I was reading about the hyaluronic acid injections @N-Smooth mentioned earlier, as well.
 
J

J-mobzz

Well-Known Member
I don’t have any experience with stem cells , but like I mentioned in that other thread, I did recently go to Tijuana for a surgery. And the medical building I had it done in has multiple floors offering different things and I’m sure stem cells is probably one of the offices there.
If the cost savings is significant enough, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to do it there. It was a great experience. Fly into San Diego they pick you up in the car drive you across the border. The facility was absolutely amazing and beautiful. then they have a medical pass for the return back to San Diego so you skip the majority of the border crossing line. I had to stay a few nights but even with hotel airfare and everything all said and done. I was still about $8000 less than having it done here in the states. They do a great job catering to Americans.

I also personally know several people, including a family member that have had procedures done in Tijuana all with very great success.
 
1969honda

1969honda

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
Cache
@Greg does your neck hurt as well? If it fits and you have shoulder with arm/hand nerve pains it may actually be a disc in your C spine.

Due a car wreck I was in back in June my C6-C7 was pushed/buldged/herniated so bad that I haven't been able to work or pass my employers fit for duty test. I had random shooting nerve pains down my left shoulder/arm/hand and my grip strength went from 130ish pounds to 70-75. Most of the time I felt OK, but noticed my hand was just weaker than my right side. Other times, especially if I tried to lift heavy things, it felt like a cattle prod suddenly got hooked to my nerves. I just had a disc replacement on the 14th and I haven't felt this good in years. My range of motion in my neck and both shoulders feels much better. We tested my grip strength for the first time yesterday at physical therapy, my left hand was already at 105-110, right hand was 127.

I'm not saying surgery is the answer, I have other back and shoulder issues that I'm doing everything possible to avoid that, but it might be worth it to at least get x-rays. That way you can see if anything is pinching or rubbing on a nerve in your neck if anything is out of place. Traction, dry needling, and a good chiropractor can make a big difference if there is any nerve issues.
 
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Greg

Greg

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Location
Grand Junction, CO
1969honda said:
@Greg does your neck hurt as well? If it fits and you have shoulder with arm/hand nerve pains it may actually be a disc in your C spine.

Due a car wreck I was in back in June my C6-C7 was pushed/buldged/herniated so bad that I haven't been able to work or pass my employers fit for duty test. I had random shooting nerve pains down my left shoulder/arm/hand and my grip strength went from 130ish pounds to 70-75. Most of the time I felt OK, but noticed my hand was just weaker than my right side. Other times, especially if I tried to lift heavy things, it felt like a cattle prod suddenly got hooked to my nerves. I just had a disc replacement on the 14th and I haven't felt this good in years. My range of motion in my neck and both shoulders feels much better. We tested my grip strength for the first time yesterday at physical therapy, my left hand was already at 105-110, right hand was 127.

I'm not saying surgery is the answer, I have other back and shoulder issues that I'm doing everything possible to avoid that, but it might be worth it to at least get x-rays. That way you can see if anything is pinching or rubbing on a nerve in your neck if anything is out of place. Traction, dry needling, and a good chiropractor can make a big difference if there is any nerve issues.
Click to expand...

No neck pain, my back always hurts though. A car accident (as well) did my left shoulder in, I got rear-ended at a stoplight. I did have surgery on the effected shoulder and it didn't really help, which is terrible.
 
Greg

Greg

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Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
J-mobzz said:
I don’t have any experience with stem cells , but like I mentioned in that other thread, I did recently go to Tijuana for a surgery. And the medical building I had it done in has multiple floors offering different things and I’m sure stem cells is probably one of the offices there.
If the cost savings is significant enough, I personally wouldn’t hesitate to do it there. It was a great experience. Fly into San Diego they pick you up in the car drive you across the border. The facility was absolutely amazing and beautiful. then they have a medical pass for the return back to San Diego so you skip the majority of the border crossing line. I had to stay a few nights but even with hotel airfare and everything all said and done. I was still about $8000 less than having it done here in the states. They do a great job catering to Americans.

I also personally know several people, including a family member that have had procedures done in Tijuana all with very great success.
Click to expand...

I'll look into other options, CPI in TJ is super expensive but apparently they have an excellent track record and are well known. I just don't think I can swing $20-40k for shots in both shoulders.

Last year coming back from Baja, we used a different border crossing than usual... Algodones, just outside of Yuma. The Mexican town absolutely caters to Americans going over the border for affordable procedures, there are doctor and dentists offices all OVER and its all within walking distance from the US side.
 
J

J-mobzz

Well-Known Member
Have you given physical therapy a real shot? I’ve had a few nasty injuries over the years including a shoulder injury that just wouldn’t heal. After finally committing to PT it took about 3 months of consistently doing the stretching and exercises daily and it has been pain free for a few years now. I still do the stretching and resistance exercises 3 times a week to keep my shoulders in check.

Another thing to maybe look into is BPC-157 I’ve never used it personally but I do have a few friends that rave about it for helping recover from injury along with other rehab work. It’s pretty easy to source. If it’s something you want to try hit me up and I can point you to a couple of reliable sources. Also I hear the oral stuff is junk so if you decide to try it I’d stick with injections.
 
Greg

Greg

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Admin
Location
Grand Junction, CO
J-mobzz said:
Have you given physical therapy a real shot? I’ve had a few nasty injuries over the years including a shoulder injury that just wouldn’t heal. After finally committing to PT it took about 3 months of consistently doing the stretching and exercises daily and it has been pain free for a few years now. I still do the stretching and resistance exercises 3 times a week to keep my shoulders in check.

Another thing to maybe look into is BPC-157 I’ve never used it personally but I do have a few friends that rave about it for helping recover from injury along with other rehab work. It’s pretty easy to source. If it’s something you want to try hit me up and I can point you to a couple of reliable sources.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I spent several months in PT before moving forward with surgery, trying to avoid surgery if possible. PT didn't change anything for me and it was often painful. Then a few months of post-surgery PT to recover and get strength back. I hoped for a gradual improvement over time and it just didn't happen. I felt like i recovered from the surgery, but only with a 50% improvement. It really bothers me after all the time, effort & costs to still have issues.

I haven't heard of BPC-157, I'll look into it. I appreciate the suggestions.
 
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