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PRP or stem cell treatment as a THR alternative?

Posted , 10 users are following.

maraleezie
maraleezie

Hi Hippies....I have another post please.  Well, I got my first surgery date (Feb 9) for my first hip (I'm bone on bone on both hips so I'm praying I get thru this one well enough to conquer the 2nd) but I'd be lying if I didn't say I am scared scared scared.  However, I've come to the end of my rope with suffering thru the stiffness, pain and inability to move.  My question is...have any of you tried the treatment of your OWN PRP (Platlet Rich Plasma) or Stem Cells?  I'm in the LA area and here the talk program every weekend, but my Ortho Surgeon says 'that doesn't work'.  But I have to tell you, The Dr. on the program (and yes, I know he's selling his business, but) sure makes a good case for wanting to try this.  Anyone out there had personal experience with trying this treatment?  I'd appreciate any feedback from you hippies who know what I'm referring to, especially if you have tried it.  Thank you, blessings and healing to you all.  

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy maraleezie

    Posted

    I know that they are looking at the possibility of stem cells, I heard they were trying out wrapping them around the hip area somehow. I think it is in very early stages but give it a few years and stem cells will be used for a lot of things. I heard that they had been doing trials on young patients. I am not sure of the outcome though.  
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy

      Posted

      Sorry I meant to say they have been doing trials on animals and plan to use it on younger patients initially.

      I believe there are some doctors who just inject stem cells into the hip, but I understand this has not been proved to work, but I may be wrong. 

    • maraleezie
      maraleezie ptolemy

      Posted

      thanks so much for your input!   (the Dr. of this radio program claims he has been doing so with his patients with great success for years), and he sounds so knowledgeable and believable...its easy to hope that one could avoid surgery with something like this.  But I also realize he's selling his program for profit too and I tend to think it may be for those who's problems are as advanced as mine.   Thanks again for your input. 

  • brittni2103
    brittni2103 maraleezie

    Posted

    Hey I am in the LA area as well...i am now 12 days post op of RTHR...my original doctor said i should try PRP but when i went to go visit my second doctor he too told me that doesnt work simply for the fact that my femur head was too damage...in simple terms he told me he couldn't re-build a bone once it has collapsed...so it simply depends on how damage your hip is...will determine if that procedure will work for you. I chose the surgery obviously and my pain level has improved tremendously..Hope that helps.

    • brittni2103
      brittni2103

      Posted

      Or i should say the amount of pain im in is nothing compared to before surgery
  • maggie93798
    maggie93798 maraleezie

    Posted

    It is certainly a treatment that is being worked on. However as far as I am aware, it is still experimental. I am sure it will come but probably for the next generation of hippies
  • beth2509
    beth2509 maraleezie

    Posted

    It can't be complete bunkum. There are five leading UK NHS hospitals trialling the use of stem cells for hips, and actually specifically for regrowing bone! And the trial is part of a 37 hospital across Europe trial. There is absolutely no way that anything would be cleared for UK trials on people unless there was substantive evidence that it could work. The trials aren't due to finish until late next year though. Started in 2015, so two year trials.

    However, yes  I would be concerned about a private business selling this as a miracle cure when leading hospitals are still trying to figure it out! 

    And really, there no reason to be scared. Honestly. When I first found this site and read through the posts, muy first thought was "OMG, what am I doing". Because it all sounded like - arghhh! But I am now six weeks post op tomorrow. From the minute I woke up, no pain. And I mean no pain. Not a bit. It feels like I have my old hip back. Walking on the hip - easy. Seriously! Now there is no way to guarantee that you will have the same experience. But there also no way to say you'll get a painful one either. Or any problems. Hip replacement is the most successful surgery going. Most everyone makes a great recovery. The odds are stacked in your favour.

    For now, stem cells treatment is still a thing of the future, so I'd not waste money on it. Use the money to have a richly deserved nice holiday when you feel better! 

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy beth2509

      Posted

      They reckon it should be available in three to five years. They are growing the stem cells on a sort of frame that then is inserted around the hip somehow. There was a programme on radio about it. I think it is those doctors who just inject stem cells that are considered the snake oil salesmen! 
  • veronica61194
    veronica61194 maraleezie

    Posted

    Hi,  if you have medical insurance have you asked if they will fund it? If they won't then maybe it is not worth trying as I'm sure the insurance companies wouldn't pay for something that only has a slim chance of sucess & then they will have to pay for the op at a later date

  • steve86482
    steve86482 maraleezie

    Posted

    If it worked the Insurance companies would cover it. They don't. My Surgeon and other surgeons I spoke with compared it to snake oil. Maybe someday but not today. Had TLHR LAST year. Glad I did. Pain free in the Chicago area.

  • rose0000
    rose0000 maraleezie

    Posted

    I wanted to try stem cell treatment too - in the end I saw three separate surgeons to see if this could be done here in the U.K.. A number of things need to be considered:

    If you have arthristis or inflammation in your body stem cell will not work - the inflammation will eat away at the new 'good' cells and it won't work..

    Secondly the state of your joints - at the moment it seems only moderate wear and tear can be considered.

    Lastly the shape of your socket will impact the success of stem cell. It will not work with shallow hips and other hip joints that are irregular to the usual deep joints.

    My insurance did not cover stem cell - they believe it to be at an experimental stage and has not been passed as a viable alternative to THP. That tells us a lot about how successful it is... there is a lack of hard evidence at the moment.

    If you are in severe pain the best possible solution in my view for the moment is a total hip replacement, which was my final decision and I haven't looked back. I do think stem cell will be the medical solution in the future - if you are happy to spend money and be a guinea pig for the process then please do post on here and let us know how you get on, we will all be incredibly interested, and would be grateful if you could share tote experience. However in the interests of the best outcome for you, please do get at least two opinions and one that isn't based on profit or research. Your life is too important.

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