Stem cell therapy for joints (Lipogems)

Is there any way to get this covered by Medicare? The out-of-pocket costs at private clinics are absolutely astronomical... I’m looking at potential treatment for grade 4 patellar chondromalacia, where the cartilage is essentially non-existent.

Sean Ruiz33 said:Can this be covered by insurance? Prices at private clinics are absolutely astronomical for this kind of thing... I might need it for grade 4 patellar chondromalacia (I have zero cartilage left)

You won't find coverage for it in a major hub like NYC, but there are options in places like Osijek through Medicare for PRP and some sort of stem cell treatment—do some digging and let us know if you manage to get it sorted.

New research from Australia shows stem cell therapy can actually halt and potentially reverse osteoarthritis

https://www.medianet.com.au/releases/175829/

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/austr...175900117.html

But wait! This isn't quite the same kind of stem cell therapy we see being offered here in the States. If I recall correctly, they are actually culturing these cells in a lab for about eight weeks over there! Still, it really goes to show that the therapies we have available here in America are on the right track—they likely work to stop the progression of osteoarthritis too!

How do Stem Cells Heal?

The whole procedure, including the anesthesia used for the liposuction portion, only takes a few hours. You're actually back on your feet the very same day!

Is your knee throbbing, swelling up, clicking, or just making it impossible to walk? You’ve seen the doctors, you’ve done the tests, and now you’re staring at a diagnosis of cartilage damage? Well, right here at Osijek University Hospital, they have just performed a cutting-edge operation to reconstruct human cartilage using nothing but the patient's own fat cells. That's right—the cartilage was rebuilt using stem cells harvested directly from the patient's own fat!

Now, an advanced surgery like this is typically incredibly expensive, but here in Osijek, it can be done completely free of charge. All you really need to qualify for this procedure is a referral and a little bit of extra fat around your waistline.

Paul Garcia52 said:The surgery, including the liposuction anesthesia, only takes a few hours. You're back on your feet the same day.

Knee acting up? Swelling, clicking, can't even walk? Doctors checked you out and told you it's cartilage damage? Well, they just pulled off a high-tech procedure at Osijek University Hospital to reconstruct cartilage using the patient's own fat cells. They basically rebuild the cartilage using stem cells harvested from your own fat.

This kind of cutting-edge surgery is usually insanely expensive, but at Osijek University Hospital, it'll be totally free. All you need is a referral and a little extra fat around the waist.

Can people from other parts of the US sign up for this? Got a contact number?
I want to get my dad in for this—he’s got osteoarthritis and refuses to go under the knife for another hip replacement.

Hey, has anyone here actually gone through stem cell therapy? I'm curious about what the experience was like. My knee has started making this clicking sound whenever I walk down stairs, and sometimes even on flat ground—it’s just a quiet click, not quite a pop. It doesn't hurt yet, but I feel like it's only a matter of time before it does. I'm active, but I've paused everything until I figure out what's going on. Dr. Google says my cartilage might be damaged, and I really want to be fully prepared before I head to an appointment. I've had a couple of times before (not related to my knees) where doctors either wouldn't suggest advanced options or didn't even know they existed, so I ended up finding them myself online. Thanks

nimblegull23 said:Can people from other parts of the US order this too? Do you have a contact number?
I really want to take my dad for this treatment; he’s dealing with osteoarthritis and he absolutely refuses to go under the knife for another hip replacement.

Honestly, your best bet is to just ask your own doctor or give that hospital in Osijek a call! Otherwise, if you're looking for PRP, they do that at Merkur.

Donna Harris9 said:Hi everyone! Has anyone here actually gone through stem cell therapy? I’m curious about what the experience is really like. My knee has started making this clicking sound whenever I walk down stairs, and sometimes even on flat ground—it’s just a quiet little pop, not like it's catching or locking up. There’s no pain yet, but honestly, I feel like it’s only a matter of time before the ache sets in. I’m pretty active with sports, but I’ve paused everything for now until I figure out exactly what’s going on. My "Dr. Google" diagnosis points toward cartilage damage, and I really want to be fully prepared before I head in for an official consultation. I've had two instances in the past (totally unrelated to my knees, though!) where doctors either wouldn't advise me on advanced options or simply didn't even know they existed until I found them myself online. Thanks!

Look, you might not even need stem cells! Honestly, PRP might be enough for you. If you get some PRP done, there is a very good chance that clicking sensation will settle down after a year or two. Out of pocket, you're looking at roughly $667 for three sessions, but realistically speaking... if you're an athlete, a little clicking is pretty standard. I mean, think about it—what do you think professional soccer players deal with once they hit their 30s? They all have those noises! 🙂

I feel the need to throw out a little word of caution to anyone reading up on stem cells: let’s get one thing straight—stem cells aren't going to magically regrow your cartilage from scratch! No, no. What they actually do is essentially put the brakes on the damage, stopping that wear and tear for a certain window of time, maybe 1, 2, 3, 4, or even 5 years.

Thanks for the reply. At first glance, all this stem cell stuff sounds just too good to be true... like your knee is actually going to regenerate, but from what I'm reading, that's not quite how it works. 😑

Look, this stuff might help with that clicking sound by regenerating or strengthening whatever cartilage you've still got left in that joint, but let's be real—if there's a structural defect where the cartilage is just gone, neither PRP nor stem cells can magically bring it back. For actual cartilage defects, though, the absolute cutting edge of what's happening globally right now is "CartiHeal Agili - C Implantation" .

But hey! Maybe in a year or two, we could actually see the first true DMOAD for osteoarthritis—something that stops the loss of cartilage before it even happens! It is an absolute MASSIVE hit over in Australia. The treatment course lasts about 12 weeks, where you visit the doctor twice for injections into the abdomen or the glute. The medication is based on pentosan polysulfate, which is a drug that has actually been used worldwide for 60 years already! Check out this video: . And get this—this drug doesn't just target the knees; it works for the WHOLE BODY, from your little toe all the way up to the last vertebra in your cervical spine where there's cartilage!

This drug has already cleared Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, and now it's moving into the final Phase 3 stage in 2020, which will be taking place right here in the USA. If it succeeds, we are talking about a total blockbuster drug for osteoarthritis!

Paul Garcia52 said:Look, if you’re dealing with popping or clicking sounds, these treatments might help regenerate or strengthen the cartilage you actually have left in that joint. But let’s be real—if there’s a hole where the cartilage is just gone, neither PRP nor stem cells can magically regrow it from nothing. For actual structural defects, the cutting edge right now is something called "

."

But, there might be some hope on the horizon. In maybe a year or two, we could see the first real DMOAD for osteoarthritis—something designed to actually stop the cartilage from disappearing further. Down in Australia, there’s a massive hit right now involving a 12-week course where you visit the doctor twice for injections into the abdomen or the glutes. It’s based on pentosan polysulfate, a drug that’s actually been around the block for 60 years. Check out this video:

. The kicker is that this stuff doesn't just target your knees; it works on your whole body, from your toes all the way up to those cervical vertebrae in your neck where you've got cartilage too.

The drug has already cleared Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, and it's moving into the final Phase 3 stage in 2020, which will be happening here in the US. If this thing pulls through, it’s going to be an absolute blockbuster for osteoarthritis treatment.

Any updates on this? Since you guys are basically our only link to what's happening with these Australian treatments. 😵 🙂)

So, get this—PAR is moving their treatment into Phase III trials! We should see the results by the end of 2022, which could mean they finally step onto the big stage. This massive study is going global, spanning the US, Australia, and Europe (under the watchful eyes of the FDA and EMA), involving about 3,000 participants!
Regarding Cynata Therapeutics—they’ve also kicked off their Phase II trials. It's a huge undertaking with 480 participants, essentially the largest study out there to determine once and for all if stem cells actually help with osteoarthritis or... well, NOT. What's wild is that they're using stem cells from a single donor that can be replicated for everyone; they've got this incredible system for cloning those stem cells.

But wait, there's more! Check out this latest news from APPA, a British company. They're testing an oral combo of two isomers: 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyacetophenone (4H3MA) & 2-hydroxy-4-methoxyacetophenone (2H4MA). They gave it to 75 participants via 2 x 400mg capsules twice a day for 28 days. The Phase I results were absolutely fascinating—it actually prevents cartilage degradation while simultaneously stripping away inflammation!

Does Sprifermin sound like something worth looking into?

What’s actually the best way to handle a worn-out kneecap these days? I've been reading all this stuff about stem cells, but man, the price tag is pretty intimidating. I'm trying to figure out what the gold standard is, but also what might be a bit more budget-friendly.

I mean, maybe I should just accept my fate and stick to joint supplements—you know, things like Glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, hyaluronic acid...

My apologies, I haven't quite caught up on all the previous posts yet—mostly because some of those technical terms are a bit over my head and I've been rushing around lately.

It looks like Osijek University Hospital is a spot where you can get PRP and stem cell treatments done. I actually sent them an email, so I guess we'll just see what they have to say about it.

The folks over at Osijek University Hospital reached out to me. They want me to get X-rays done on both knees at the very least. I guess once I send those images over, we'll see what the next steps are.

Wait, can you actually do this with an insurance referral?!?!
I was under the impression that this was strictly private pay.

So, I guess I've officially jumped down the rabbit hole. Now I'm starting to worry about the risks. For instance, they have to put you under during liposuction, and honestly, anything could go wrong there, right? Or even just injecting directly into the knee—could the needle cause more damage and actually make things worse?

And I don't know much about PRP, just platelet-rich plasma stuff? Is that injected at the exact same time as the stem cells, like, through the same needle?