Can Stem Cells Reduce the Opioid Epidemic?

[drusso]

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Mike says, "yes."



https://www.stemcures.com/can-stem-cells-reduce-the-opioid-epidemic/

"For many years, Michael has been struggling with back pain. It was limiting his ability to work and more importantly preventing him from enjoying time with his family. Unfortunately, in spite of trying different pain relieving measures like physical therapy, spinal injections and chiropractic care, he continued to suffer from back pain. Finally he was prescribed hydrocodone- a powerful opioid. Although this opioid pain medication helped him initially, its efficacy decreased with time and the doses had to be escalated to provide relief from his back pain. Finally, even though he was on 60mg/d, there was no respite to his back pain. To give you some perspective, this opioid dose is equivalent to taking 12 regular Vicodins a day.

Because of the tightening state medical board regulations, his family doctor was no longer comfortable prescribing opioids. He was referred to a pain management clinic. That was when I met him. I told him a few facts about opioids and chronic pain.

1. There is no evidence that opioids help in chronic pain.
2. The higher the dose of opioid, the higher the risk of addiction.
3. The longer he is on the opioid, the higher is the risk of addiction.
4. Prescription opioids have the same effects on the brain as Heroin.

When I told him that I would gradually taper him down to lower opioid doses, he agreed. But he asked me, “What about my pain, doc?”. His pain was from degenerated discs and facet joint arthritis which was seen on the MRI of his lower back. Since traditional medical care had failed to provide pain relief for his back pain, and surgery was not an option, I offered him the Stem Cell transplant. He was excited that stem cells could eliminate opioids. He had the stem cell procedure done, and 6 wks later, he is almost pain free. He is finally enjoying quality time with his family. Now, he wants to be tapered off his opioids which he has been taking for 6 years."

 

[lonelobo]

Who would of thunk it?

 

[Ducttape]

Ya something worked that allowed him to stay on opioids 6 weeks longer!

Wonder how many hours before the injection wears out and he “needs just a little bit” of opioids until the next shot kicks in....

 

[kamilo6]

Ya something worked that allowed him to stay on opioids 6 weeks longer!
Wonder how many hours before the injection wears out and he “needs just a little bit” of opioids until the next shot kicks in....

Dude! Crazy you should say that.
Same thing in our office.
A big guy is seeing the PA for a “taper”.
1st partner does BM/PRP & patient “loves it!”.
He won’t shut up in the waiting room about how “wonderful new procedure is & how it is totally worth paying cash”.
2nd partner does 2-3 more for different body parts & we’re still “the best doctors on the planet”.
I do the last 1 for his knees & we’re talking about filming his testimonial to put on the waiting TV we use to advertise practice’s service.

Anyway, cocaine in urine later (we kinda should have seen it coming). Guy gets cut off...
He doesn’t schedule any more stem cell & we regret we lost the chance to film him since the guy was a total extrovert (or high).
🙂

 

[pastafan]

Beware any patient on opioids proclaiming that you are the best doctor in the world.

 

[Doctodd]

hey dave....funny how this spun out of control the exact opposite way you thought it would. Lead a horse to water, but...

 

[drusso]

hey dave....funny how this spun out of control the exact opposite way you thought it would. Lead a horse to water, but...

First, I think that a doctor can trade pills for cells just like they can trade pills for shots...but why on earth would you? There is no stopping the sociopathic...

Second, I think that there is an interesting selection bias with Regen Med patients (I call them the "altered comfort crowd"). They want to be "fixed" and not palliated and they reject things that are just going to "cover up the symptoms." Almost all of them see pills as palliation.

On the other hand, the chronic pain patients EMBRACE the fact that they are broken and CANNOT be fixed and feel ENTITLED to palliation with pills. Similarly, the Addicts CLING to the refrain that their addiction is "relapsing and remitting chronic brain disease" that is beyond their locus of control. With both problems (Pain & Addiction) often co-occurring, I call this group the "Pain-Addicts."

So, are there ANY Pain-Addicts out there masquerading as the Altered Comfort Crowd in order to work their Regen Med doctors for pills? I wouldn't put it past human nature...but in my experience that is not common at all...And, I also see more doctors eagerly giving up the DEA license as their Regen Med practices grow...

As to the claim that cellular therapy can be opioid sparing or reverse tolerance/hyperalgesia? I guess that's empirical question that should be studied.

Stem Cell Therapy Reverses Opioid Tolerance Effects

“MSC-TP is emerging as an innovative, safe, and efficacious therapy for OT and OIH,” researchers wrote. “It has enormous potential to profoundly impact clinical practice and improve opioid efficacy and safety.”

https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cpt.959

 

[Orin]

First, I think that a doctor can trade pills for cells just like they can trade pills for shots...but why on earth would you? There is no stopping the sociopathic...

Cash pay vs insurance approvals?
Appealing to a more lucrative clientele?
Selling a cure vs a bandaid?
Keeping up with the rest of the market?

I'm sure there are more reasons, but they all seem financially or ego driven. The literature on it seems mixed, but I'm hopeful there's a signal in the noise.

 

[Ducttape]

but are you actually fixing anything with these stem cell injections?

maybe some tendon injections, but is stem cell therapy the next snake oil for someone who will be willing to pay anything for the quick fix?

hypothetically, are we better served by presenting the truth to these patients - you have an incurable condition that will not go away. we have to manage it, prevent it from limiting your functioning or quality of life. dont go from one quack to another attempting to get a cure for something incurable. (not trying to be too harsh, but pass the message....)

 

[drusso]

but are you actually fixing anything with these stem cell injections?

maybe some tendon injections, but is stem cell therapy the next snake oil for someone who will be willing to pay anything for the quick fix?

hypothetically, are we better served by presenting the truth to these patients - you have an incurable condition that will not go away. we have to manage it, prevent it from limiting your functioning or quality of life. dont go from one quack to another attempting to get a cure for something incurable. (not trying to be too harsh, but pass the message....)

What kind of incurable condition are you injecting with stem cells???

 

[lonelobo]

What kind of incurable condition are you injecting with stem cells???

sight

 

[Doctodd]

sight

wrong message board....maybe try the optho board and report back?

 

[lonelobo]

wrong message board....maybe try the optho board and report back?

Guess you didn't quite get it

 

[Doctodd]

Guess you didn't quite get it

wait for it...it will come to you...or not

 

[lonelobo]

wait for it...it will come to you...or not

Hey Einstein....look at previous threads on Stem cells.....then just maybe you will get it......but probably not

 

[Doctodd]

U guys are all wound up it seems.....maybe I should have used the violet font on my “optho and report back” ....in other words it meant the same sarcasm u did