Stem Cell Therapy for Hip Cartilage Regeneration - Has anyone received this therapy?

Nicholas, I have not had that therapy, but here is my two cents worth. It is not covered by insurance in the U.S. and is considered experimental. Personally, I would not try it unless plenty of peer-reviewed double-blind research had been done showing that it worked, and it was covered by insurance/Medicare/Medicaid. 

If you suspect the cause of your terrible pain is cartilage degeneration, that can be verified by x-ray. If that does turn out to be the case, you might consider having your partial hip replacement changed into a total one, if that is what you orthopedic surgeon recommends! That would take care of the pain with a proven, effective method.

Good luck with whatever route you choose.

Yes. I tried this....unfortunately it didn't work . The Doctor said it didn"t work because my arthritis was too severe. ...so one year after the stem cell therapy and no improvement....(the pain actually became worse and the Dr. Would't prescribe any more pain meds after the surgery) so a year later I had both of my hips replaced. I still owe over $3,500 on the stem cell procedure. That was almost 2 years ago....I felt like after I took a loan out to pay for the procedure.. I was on my own . .....no help at all when things were not getting better . if your arthritis is bad ...I suggest you go for the hip replacement.... I feel FABULOUS! Almost 9 months from both hips being replaced and I am teaching dance and choreographing 7 days a week almost 6 hours every day! Back to doing what I LOVE!

I understood that it was very much an experimental procedure and several years away from being a proven method of therapy. If there are clinical trials going on you may be able to take part. 

...any experience/insights into Stem Cell Therapy for hip cartilage regeneration? ...

Hi Nicholas-

  For all of us joint problem sufferers, the promise of the stem cell guys has been irresistible: Bad bones? Just grow some new ones. Look at starfish. Etc.

Problem is, we are not starfish, or worms, or whatever animal they are using to distract us with, to cover up the fact that really regenerating weight-bearing human tissue has never been accomplished. On the other hand, the THR surgeons went with high strength metal and plastic bearings, solidly affixed into healthy bone. A few million cases later, we can all agree, the choice was a wise one.

My opinion, as an amateur, is that your best course of action is to contact a THR revision specialist, and sign up for the latest in mechanical joints. The stem cell and DNA editing stuff is just not for us, not yet. For the cancer and nerve damage patients, it's a different story. They are getting their lives back, due to progress in cell-level microbiology.

HTH

My OS’s practice offers stem cell therapy and I asked if I might be a candidate for any of the myriad of bad joints in my body. He said I’m not because I have degenerative arthritis. It would be a waste of my money. Sure wish it would work because I’ve already replaced 2 knees and a hip and I’m getting ready to replace the other hip.