stem cell therapy for arthritic knee - has anyone had it?

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I assume you're speaking of RegenExx therapy or something similar. While I believe people have the freedom to try any therapy they want, there is no evidence that injecting stem cells into an arthritic joint can regenerate articular cartilage, and no reason to think that it will.

Yes, something similar. and other cartilage?

There is no evidence to go by. We already know that introducing stem cells into a focal defect via microfracture stimulates the formation of an infereior fibrous repair tissue that breaks down quickly.

I know you want people who have had the treatment to respond. But I doubt there are many folks that can speak positively about the treatment. If this worked, it would be part of EVERY orthopods arsenal. But it isn't, so that tells you something.

I can tell you from my research experience of injecting stem cells that 99% of the cells will be dead within 24hrs unless given some semi-solid media to support them. Then I give them two weeks max. The stimulus is likely almost entirely inflammatory, so my guess is best case you get some scar tissue for your trouble. Tissue engineering is making progress, but it's just not ready for prime time.

Thanks for your responses.

If you do some googling you will find cases where it has worked.

Are you both experts in the field?

Friends have had prolotherapy injections for help with knee pain and thumb arthritis. I don't know any details other than the pain relief and return to running was almost immediate. Obviously, it's not repairing anything instantly, but that's all I know.

I had microfracture on my right knee in 2003. Ive run 7 marathons and hundreds of miles since. I was lucky in that the damaged area was not an area of the femur that has direct contact.

The treatment wasn't easy. I was off my feet for long time, and wasn't running for a full 6-8 mo. after.

On my left knee I was diagnosed with arthritis on my patella. I had supartz injections (5 injections over 5 weeks) and that has done wonders. I'm running a ton of miles and racing quite a bit.

Before the treatment I was constantly hurting and having flare ups that would take me down or severely limit my running. Since then I've been hitting it pretty hard without issue. (Granted I have kept up with my PT exercises.)

FYI I'm 47 and a life long runner. Been lacing 'em up for 35 years.

thanks for your response ez

i'd never heard of supartz? what would you say was the cause of your relief? the microfracture or the supartz? i had microfracture too but was given no instructions as to keeping of my feet.

I think my trouble is worse than yours was / is

To answer your question I am an expert in a related field (bone) so I hear talks weekly on cartilage regeneration and it is a tough nut to crack. My guess is your response will depend in the severity and location of your injury. But my take from recent research is that the 'stem cells' that are injected die quickly but their contents and/or brief growth factor secretion stimulates inflammation that may spark some small degree of healing or regeneration. Bottom line, we really don't know what it does. Apparently it seems to help some people some of the time. Keep your expectations low and you may be pleasantly surprised?

runner abc wrote:

thanks for your response ez

i'd never heard of supartz? what would you say was the cause of your relief? the microfracture or the supartz? i had microfracture too but was given no instructions as to keeping of my feet.

I think my trouble is worse than yours was / is

Well the shots were in one knee and the microfracture was in the other. The supartz was very very easy and provided the immediate relief of cortisone but without the long term consequences.

The microfracture surgery was tough. Took me forever to get back on track.

Hello

OP here. Thanks for the response. I have been accepted into a trial. I let you know how it goes.

wwerwe wrote:

Hello

OP here. Thanks for the response. I have been accepted into a trial. I let you know how it goes.

It would be great of you do. I've got an interest in this.

wwerwe wrote:

Hello

OP here. Thanks for the response. I have been accepted into a trial. I let you know how it goes.

It would be great of you do. I've got an interest in this.

will do

Op,

I'm interested as well. What type of arthritis do you have and what trial are you speaking of?

There is currently no successful stem cell approach to treating arthritis and whatever you're referring to isn't going to work. Stem cells can be coaxed into producing cartilage in a bioreactor under the right conditions, but not by simply injecting them into a joint in vivo, where they would be immediately destroyed in an ambulatory patient and wouldn't "know" what to do anyway without the right scaffolding, growth factors, etc. Google the name Kyriacos Athanasiou and read about his work with cartilage.

I had microfracture and am running again. The recovery was tough and took forever, and I'm a lot slower than before, but I 'm thrilled to be able to run again at whatever speed. It's like I got my life back.

Wawaaac wrote:

Op,

I'm interested as well. What type of arthritis do you have and what trial are you speaking of?

Osteoarthritis, and this one

I hope you are okay and don't think you need it.

Where are you based?