As reported by: 13abc
Stem Cell Therapy Has Huge Potential – This Video Link
As Gordie Howe makes world headlines with his remarkable recovery from a near life-ending stroke, the medical community responds with guarded enthusiasm surrounding stem cell therapy. Howe suffered a massive stroke in October, that left him completely paralyzed on the right side of his body. He remained bed ridden for two months until adult stem cell therapy was offered as a last resort treatment. Howe’s son, Dr. Murray Howe M.D. researched the offer from Stemedia out of San Diego extensively. The family decided to go ahead with the therapy feeling it was safe and posed no risks. Howe’s response was dramatic and quick, allowing him to get up and walk with assistance 8 hours after the first treatments.
This has prompted others in the medical field to point out other very promising uses for stem cell therapy. One very active area for stem cell therapy right now is for repairing joint damage. Promedica Sports Care Dr. Roger Kruse offers the treatment in his practice at Wildwood Family Practice.
“Stem cells and regenerative medicine is going to transform medicine,” says Kruse.
Kruse is also Howe’s personal physician, and was equally impressed with the outcome of his stem cell therapy. The difference between Howe’s therapy is that his therapy used donated adult stem cells, while the stem cell therapy Kruse does uses the patient’s own stem cells. Healthy stem cells are drawn and then injected into the damaged joint, allowing new cartilage to grow. “What we’re seeing is about a 60-percent improvement in pain and function at a year which is phenomenal. People that were going to get total hips and knees no longer need them,” says Kruse.
Stem cells are also being used to repair heart damage following a heart attack. Cardiologist Dr. Ameer Kabour from Toledo Cardiology Consultants says stem cells are injected directly into the heart muscle. “It just regenerated and you will find the damaged area getting smaller, basically is the theory that is working at this point,” says Kabour. “It is improving heart function in patients involved in clinical trials up to a third, which is very significant for these patients,”
While the stem cell therapy that Dr. Kruse performs is available locally, the other stem cell treatments are being tested around the country in tightly controlled clinical trials. But all doctors agree we will see these treatments start to be widely available within 3 to 5 years. The drawback is always the cost which is not covered by insurance. The stem cell therapy that uses the patient’s own stem cells is 7-thousand dollars a treatment, and the stem cell therapy that uses donated adult stem cells runs 20-thousand.
However, stem cell supplements is one form of adult stem cell therapy that is affordable and they are available now. Although not as powerful as full stem cell replacement therapy performed in an outpatient clinic, the Stem Cell Worx supplement provides a steady and continuous release of one’s own adult stem cells for ongoing repair, renewal and recovery throughout the entire body. Click here to read more: www.stemcellworx.com
For more information on various clinical trials using stem cells visit: www.clinicaltrials.gov
