Stem Cell Therapy: Cutting Edge Without Cutting

Life is about ages and stages. As we grow older, we must learn to deal with the various health challenges that arise. There is no roadmap to navigate the world of healthcare.  We need to advocate for ourselves and learn to research what medical options are available. 

A few months ago, while I was walking down the staircase in my home, I experienced moderate hip pain. At the time, I didn’t think much about it. However, as time passed, the pain became more intense. 

I made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. Upon reviewing my x-rays, he said, “No question, you require immediate hip replacement surgery. You have severe arthritis, and it will only get worse!” He added somewhat arrogantly, “Or you can stay and limp the way you are.”  I was taken aback, not only by his lack of bedside manner, but by the severity of his diagnosis. 

I decided to get a second opinion before I scheduled any surgical procedure. A close friend recommenced orthopedist, Dr. Thomas Grogan. I made an appointment and sent him my x-rays and MRI results. Dr. Grogan was very professional, direct, yet caring and attentive. As he displayed my x-rays, he showed me how the arthritis was affecting my hip.  In his opinion, it was treatable. He recommended a relatively new cutting-edge procedure called Stem Cell Therapy.  He said that for men, it has shown to be effective in 81% of cases. 

Stem cell therapy uses stem cells to repair or replace damaged tissue in the body, treating various conditions by promoting self-healing and reducing inflammation. This treatment has shown to be effective in treating orthopedic issues, cardio-pulmonary diseases, and urological conditions. By utilizing the patient’s stem cells, derived from adipose (fat) tissue, bone marrow or blood, rejection is not an issue. This therapy can involve growing specialized cells in a lab from stem cells and implanting them, using a patient’s own cells to promote repair. 

I decided to do my own research as well as get the opinions of a cardiologist, an additional orthopedist, and my personal physician. The unanimous advice was to undergo the procedure. Currently, insurance does not cover Stem Cell Therapy, and it is quite expensive. This was a difficult decision, but I regard this therapy as an investment in myself. If I could get pain relief without having major surgery, as well as possibly treating several other physical issues, the answer was obvious. 

I informed Dr, Grogan that I wanted to go forward. He then put me in touch with Dr. Elliot Lander of the California Stem Cell Treatment Center. Dr. Lander was one of the early pioneers in using fat derived stem cell technology.  He has been performing stem cell procedures since 2010. During my consultation with Dr. Lander, he explained the procedure and patiently answered all my questions. I felt well informed and confident made an appointment for the treatment. 

The fat was harvested under local anesthesia. The doctor made a small puncture and removed some fat using a suction device. The process took approximately 30 minutes. After the procedure, I was advised to limit physical activity for 48 hours and not to engage in any strenuous activities for seven days. When I returned to the lobby of the clinic, I noticed a very well-known celebrity waiting for his appointment. We engaged in conversation, and he told me that he had Stem Cell Therapy awhile back. He said it had been extremely successful. His words were very encouraging.  

Before leaving the clinic, I was handed a vial of the just extracted stem cells. The rest of the stem cell would be sent to a cryonic bank for future use and to grow new cells. I was instructed to take the vial of stem cells back to Dr. Grogan’s office. The stem cells were injected not only into my hip, but also my knee and ankle, damaged from year of being a competitive athlete. I experienced quite severe pain during the injections, but it was far better than surgery. No medication was prescribed but I could take Advil or Tylenol for any discomfort.   

Now it is a matter of patience. It could take anywhere from four to six months to attain the full benefits of Stem Cell Therapy.  Individual results vary depending upon one’s physiology. I am very optimistic that I will benefit greatly from this procedure.  

There is evidence that Stem Cell Therapy could improve brain function, improve the immune system, improve vision, treat neuropathy, improve hearing, promote skin rejuvenation, promote hair growth, and improve sexual function, regardless of age. 

Research suggests that Stem Cell Therapy will be an important contributor to the future of medicine. Serious health issues, may, one day be treated with Stem Cell Therapy instead of drugs with side effects or invasive surgeries. The future of medicine is very promising.