Meet Valerie. A 56 year young Hairstylist, diagnosed with osteoarthritis of knee, medial and lateral meniscus tears, and knee pain. She completed two Regenexx procedures – one in April 2014 and another in July 2014.
She completed two Regenexx procedures with RAPS – one in April 2014 and another in July 2014. This is her story!
Before Stem Cell Therapy
By the age of 55, Valerie had tried cortisone injections, “rooster shots” and Celebrex to maintain function and control pain in her knees. Bending or putting weight on her knees caused such severe pain that Valerie crawled up and down the stairs at home. She was forced to sit in a chair while styling hair and ask neighbors to carry groceries from the car into her house.
Desperate, she decided to have total knee replacement surgery—and was denied.
“The insurance company said I was too young,” Valerie says. “The artificial knees last only so long, and a second replacement surgery is very difficult.”
She saw Dr. Paul Lieber on a WTAE news segment about Regenexx therapy and wondered if she had, finally, found her solution.
After Stem Cell Therapy
In April 2014, Valerie had stem cell therapy for her right knee. She returned three months later for the left knee and started physical therapy in September. She missed about a week of work after each stem cell treatment.
What surprised her?
“How quickly I felt better,” she says.
“Dr. Lieber and Dr. Adelsheimer are fabulous,” she adds. “I have sent four people to them already … so many people have trouble with their knees.”
Today, Valerie is 100% pain-free in the right knee. Her left knee did not respond as fully but “I would still do it,” she says. Local errands that used to take a week or more now take a few hours. She can do her own yard work again and, in general, is much more independent.
The hospital fees for one total knee replacement surgery exceed $50,000. Even though she has insurance coverage, Valerie would have paid close to $20,000 for surgery, rehabilitation and other fees for two knees. “Also, I would have missed several weeks of work without pay,” she says.
She paid far less for stem cell therapy on both knees. “And to be in no pain!” she adds.
“There’s not a price you can put on that.”
Disclaimer: Like all medical procedures, Regenexx Procedures have a success & failure rate. Not all patients will experience the same results.