UPDATE: 3 months after stem cell injection
Hi all, it’s been 3 months (plus two weeks - been busy with work, life, etc) and I’m back with an update on progress. You can read about my original post and experience here: https://www.reddit.com/r/stemcells/s/EkuGx2RoUw
All in all, I’m happy with my decision - for now. The pain on the medial side where my second tear was diagnosed is 90 to 95% gone when performing day-to-day activities like walking around the office and the house and doing some light exercises like stationary bike riding and low resistance band exercises. I think most people who are considering stem cells as a treatment will be glad to read that part.
There were a few hiccups over the past few months that I think have more to do with my own desire to be back playing sports and being more active, than it does with the stem cell injection. About one month after the injection, I tried to increase activity too quickly and noticed some swelling in my knee. That was really disappointing to see as I was hoping that stem cells would have worked more quickly. I’m an impatient guy by nature, so this was not surprising that I was already champing at the bit to be back to sports. This was a wake up call, though, and made me realize that the road to recovery will be much longer.
I should also note that I have started working with a physical therapist that I really like. I think this component of my recovery is crucial, and I would recommend this to anyone who is considering stem cells as a form of treatment. I think it is unlikely that stem cells themselves will completely heal what’s wrong and you will likely need some form of physical therapy and rehabilitation to get back to where you want to be. It goes without saying, that I am not a doctor and you should discuss your personal treatment plan with a medical professional.
Lastly, I have come to terms with the fact that my body is aging, and it is unlikely that I will return to my former athletic self. I do truly believe that the stem cells, paired with my physical therapy, will get me in the ballpark of where I used to be athletically and as I enter my later 40s and into my 50s, I think that is about all I can ask for.
Good luck in your recovery! Happy to respond to any questions/comments. I plan on posting my final update sometime in August which is the 6 month mark and the timeframe that most research has suggested would show demonstrable proof if the stem cells were working.