Stem Cell Treatment

[debgen]

Hi everyone! It has been a very long time since I have posted.

I just cam home from a Stem cell treatment conference. The doctor who spoke discuses the stem cell surgery he performs in NY, LA and Miami. It is FDA approved. MS is one of the conditions he treats. He only uses your own stem cells taken from body fat. He claims positive results. I was very excited by his presentation but my hubby was skeptical..

I was wondering what info people can share with me about this topic.

Hugs to all,
Deb

[suspiciouscombo]

Indeed.....it is an interesting topic and one to keep an eye on.
Ox

[debgen]

Thank you for your informative response. The doctor speaking discussed that he only uses the patients own stem cells. He was not claiming any cure just regeneration of the nerves. It really was very interesting and I certainly plan on obtaining further research and discussing it with my neurologist.

Thanks again,
Deb

[suspiciouscombo]

Thank you for sharing this information as it is an interesting topic. First, I support any information that may hold the potential for remedy in MS. Secondly, as a patient of stem cell implantation, I can share that it was successful in my case. That said, two very critical points need to be declared here:

1)   In my case, stem cells were aspirated from my hips and used in an Orthopedic procedure, not for MS or any other ailment. Thus, this is what caught my eye regarding your original post, "[h]e only uses your own stem cells......".

2)   However, I could not agree more with immisceo and her assessment above. Never would I have agreed to proceed with my procedure if foreign stem cells were the only option. Further, my Orthopedic surgeon is not one to navigate forward in such a procedure unless he believed in and witnessed longstanding results in his cases in addition to ongoing research via use of the patients own stem cells.

Immisceo's last two paragraphs above are something to consider and quite valid. Again, in my case, stem cell implantation was successful but used in a procedure completely independent and non relevant to MS, and of my stem cells, none other.

I do not know that enough studies have been conducted in the use of stem cell therapy for MS and remain suspicious in the possible monetary beneficial gains looming behind. Just my opinion of course.

For the reasons mention above, I believe the use of the patients own stem cells in therapy for MS is something to remain knowledgeable with. Again, if it were me, I would also remain concerned due to the standing nature in which the pharmaceutical industry operates in the U.S. ... but that is for another discussion :-)

It is still in its infancy and if it were me, the use of foreign stem cells is something I would be very concerned with, and reluctantly move forward  using extreme caution.



ox

[debgen]

That is exactly what my husband said to me. He felt like it was a sales pitch. I guesses it was to good to b true :(
Bummed,
Deb

[HVAC]

Understand that stem cell therapy only slows progression. It does not reverse symptoms. If you already have nerve damage that will not go away.

Alex

[immisceo]

To be honest, at this stage of the research, unless you're recruited into a study, I'd steer well clear. There's just not enough data on safety and efficacy yet. Signing up for a study does involve accepting some risk (including the risk of the treatment doing bupkis), but it also protects you and your wallet in some heavy ways too.

I can not speak for this doctor's overall medical proficiency and ethical fabric, but please understand that what you heard was a sales pitch, not a typical conference presentation of findings, which are usually bone dry, and more of a presentation of recent findings and where the researcher hopes to take the research in future.

Medical care and the pushing of its boundaries is a very slow process, which is frustrating as we all want access to our alleviation now, but stem cell treatments aren't there yet. Again, if he's recruiting for a study, by all means read through all the documentation and start the screening process if it all checks out. If you're asked to cut a cheque, walk away.

http://www.ipscell.com/2015/01/stemhumanexperiment/
"The overall bottom line with most stem cell clinics in the US is that collectively they could be viewed as conducting a huge, unapproved and for-profit stem cell experiment of a sort, on thousands of vulnerable patients who are often desperately looking for hope. At the very least these patients are spending money that they can ill afford to lose on stem cell transplants that probably do not help them."