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r/stemcells

▲ 9 r/stemcells

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.

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u/Burn-E190 — 2 days ago
▲ 4 r/stemcells

Mitochondrial dysfunction matters for hundreds of other diseases

Mitochondria are far more than the “power plants” of our cells.

They regulate energy production, inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and cellular signaling. When mitochondrial function declines, cells lose their ability to repair, communicate, and survive under stress.

This is why mitochondrial dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a common denominator in many chronic and degenerative diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer, Parkinsons, epilepsy, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and age-related cognitive decline.

In cancer, damaged mitochondria can alter cellular metabolism and promote uncontrolled growth.
In neurodegenerative disorders, neurons—among the most energy-demanding cells in the body—become highly vulnerable when mitochondrial ATP production falls.
In stroke and ischemic injury, mitochondrial failure triggers cell death cascades and worsens tissue damage.

Research into mitochondrial transfer, mitophagy enhancement, NAD+ restoration, stem cell–derived exosomes, and targeted metabolic therapies may open entirely new approaches for diseases once considered irreversible.
It may be the key to unlocking treatments for some of the most devastating diseases of our time.

u/MD_Ex — 1 day ago
▲ 3 r/stemcells

how do you actually verify the kit brand and platelet count before buying prp?

i’m looking to get prp injections for a chronic tendon issue before committing to anything more aggressive like stem cell therapy. but every regenerative medicine clinic i speak with is incredibly vague about their actual protocol.

they all quote me these massive numbers like $1,200 a shot, but when i ask what centrifuge or kit brand they use, or what the actual platelet concentration factor is, they just give me a generic “it’s high quality medical grade” response. i know the kit and prep method can matter a lot, especially for orthopedic/tendon cases, but most clinics don’t seem to want to explain it.

for those of you who approach this scientifically, how do you verify the specs before you hand over your credit card? is there an independent source that tracks clinic equipment and upfront rates so i don’t have to keep playing phone tag with sales reps?

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u/SultrySpankDear — 5 days ago
▲ 3 r/stemcells

Brain injury recovery / intrathecal

Does anyone have experience with intrathecal stem cell injections for traumatic brain injury or stroke recovery?

I’m nearly two years into a TBI with diffuse axonal network disconnection that has left me with terrible memory, attention, energy, motivation, lack of emotion, etc… a lot of classic TBI symptoms. I’m wondering if anyone has found benefit for brain injury with intrathecal stem cell injections?

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u/Lonely_Strain_1058 — 7 days ago
▲ 1 r/stemcells

Post PRP pain :(

I got PRP + HA on my knees and it’s painful. Cant bend my knees, is this normal? How long before it gets better? It feels swollen and is very painful

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u/EnvironmentalSide174 — 9 days ago
▲ 11 r/stemcells

Cell source matters more than most people think in stem cell therapies for neurodegeneration

I work in regenerative medicine, and in discussions around stem cell therapies for diseases like ALS, Parkinson’s, and MSA, one thing keeps coming up again and again: the source of the cells really matters.
At this stage, most treatments are not aimed at curing these diseases, but rather at slowing progression and supporting the survival of remaining nerve cells.

In practice, there is an important difference between two main approaches.
Autologous cells are taken from the patient’s own body (for example bone marrow or fat tissue). In theory, this sounds ideal because the body should “recognize” its own cells. However, in neurodegenerative diseases, these cells often already reflect the patient’s condition. They may be less active, less efficient, broader age- or disease-associated epigenetic drift. ( as the carrier of all our cellular damages)
This can make their effect less consistent.
Allogeneic cells come from healthy donors. These cells are generally younger, more active, and more standardized. Because they are produced from healthy sources, their quality and behavior tend to be more consistent across batches, which is important in clinical development.

There are also different types of stem cells being studied:
Mesenchymal stem cells are the most commonly used today. They do not usually replace nerve cells directly, but they can reduce inflammation and send signals that help support tissue repair.
Neural stem cells are closer to actual brain and nerve cells, so they are more directly related to repairing the nervous system. However, they are still difficult to produce and use on a large scale.
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are one of the most advanced approaches. These cells can be guided to become specific types of nerve or support cells. This gives a lot of control and precision, but also makes the process more complex and carefully regulated.

Overall, the field is moving away from a “one cell fits all” idea. Instead, the focus is shifting toward using better-defined, more consistent, and more precisely designed cell products.
What do you think about it?

u/MD_Ex — 10 days ago
▲ 15 r/stemcells+2 crossposts

Organ donation from living donors. Discussing kidneys, livers, bone marrow and heart transplants.

Includes Mike Gabler from Survivor, Scot Pollard from Survivor and the NBA

youtu.be
u/boazhepner — 11 days ago
▲ 4 r/stemcells+1 crossposts

Researching and looking into stem cell therapy for my severe back pain. Wanting to go to Puerto Vallarta or Tijuana Mexico I’ve been researching into three places US Mexico stem cell Institute, R3 stem cells and Regenamex
Out of those three options, who would you choose and if you have any experience with any of these, please let me know

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u/pinkgirlcr — 12 days ago