Anyone had PRP or stem cell for joint injuries?

[kowalski]

Hey lads, I’ve been out of the heavy lifting game for about a year now due to a dodgy shoulder (rotator cuff + cartilage wear) and a long-term knee issue that’s flared up again. MRI showed some mild osteo and cartilage thinning. I'm 47 now, been training consistently since my 20s and the years are catching up. I’ve done physio, dry needling, cortisone (waste of time for me) and even tried peptides (BPC-157/TB-500) it's decent short-term relief, but nothing lasting.

Now I’m looking at PRP or stem cell therapy, but the info online is all over the place. Some say it’s a miracle, others reckon it’s snake oil.

I’m based in Brisbane and a sports doc up here recommended PRP for the knee and possibly stem cell for the shoulder if I don’t respond well.

Would love to hear some firsthand stories, good or bad. I’m not looking for miracle cures, just something that’ll help me train properly again without pain every damn day.

Cheers,
Jason

 

[darkHORSE]

Sounds very similar to what I’m dealing with. My knees are wrecked and I’ve been seriously looking into stem cell treatments overseas, mainly Turkey and Thailand. Australia’s just too expensive and tightly regulated unless you’re in a clinical trial or cashed up. Overseas you can get quality treatment at a fraction of the cost, but you’ve gotta do your research and make sure the clinic is legit. I’ve also looked at PRP, definitely more affordable and easier to access here and while it doesn’t quite have the regenerative potential of stem cells, some guys do get decent pain relief out of it, especially for early-stage damage. Still weighing it all up myself.

 

[shawShanks]

Haven’t looked into it personally, but thought I'd share what my two mates went through. One did it in Turkey, reckons it helped for a while but hard to tell if it was the treatment or just placebo. Said the pain came back a few months later. The other spent some big $$ in the States and got zero relief and ended up needing a double knee replacement anyway. I think the results are hit or miss, especially if the joint’s already got decent wear and tear.

 

[darkHORSE]

Haven’t looked into it personally, but thought I'd share what my two mates went through. One did it in Turkey, reckons it helped for a while but hard to tell if it was the treatment or just placebo. Said the pain came back a few months later. The other spent some big $$ in the States and got zero relief and ended up needing a double knee replacement anyway. I think the results are hit or miss, especially if the joint’s already got decent wear and tear.

Cheers for sharing that Shawshanks