If you have arthritis, you might have come across different treatment options online, including stem cell therapy. But do they actually work?
At the UCSF Regenerative Orthopedics Program, Dr. Brian Feeley, Chief of Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service and Professor in Residence at UCSF, uses telemedicine to talk patients through options. The service is designed to provide unbiased advice to patients in the Bay Area and all around the country. Most will not be referred for treatment within USCF.
One arthritis therapy that has been around for decades uses platelet-rich plasma, or PRP.
"PRP works, probably, by decreasing inflammation within joint or within tissues, and some of the evidence suggests that it may actually be beneficial for some conditions - especially early arthritis," Feeley told KCBS Radio's "As Prescribed" on Thursday.
"The most important part about PRP is it’s safe," he added. "Every single study shows that it is a safe product to use. So I tell patients, if nothing else, a PRP product is going to be safe for you, and it may be effective."
He said less is known about stem cell therapies, even though some doctors and clinics might recommend them to patients.
"Unlike most medical procedures in the United States, this isn't covered by insurance and the costs of these are prohibitive," he said. "So, for instance, a PRP injection may be anywhere from $500 to $1500. Some of the stem cell therapies that are offered are anywhere between $15,000 to $50,000."
In some cases, clinical trials for stem cell therapy could be appropriate for certain patients. But, he explained it is important to do your research.
"I usually counsel patients that unless you're absolutely sure what you're getting, we don't have the studies right now to say, essentially, this is going to be either safe or effective for you. So, I really try to counsel patients to use this as sparingly as possible."
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