Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobra
You are a bit on the young side for a total knee. Synvisc is very interesting stuff, that is what they are probably talking about.
PRP is probably what you are thinking of when you talk about stem cell treatment |
Likely Synvisc or Supartz. I'm not familiar with Supartz, but I recall Synvisc is a series of 3 injections. I think it's about $600 or $700 for the 3-pack of medications. Your insurance may cover that cost. It's reasonable to try that before surgery.
PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) is similar to, but different than Stem Cells. In both cases, they take some of your tissue (either blood, or fat/bone marrow), process it in a centrifuge, and then inject back onto you the vital stuff that's been separated. PRP tries to get your body to heal itself, whereas stem cells try to regrow new tissue. PRP may (or may not) be covered by your insurance. Typically, it may cost $1000-$2000 for a PRP treatment (if not covered). Stem cells are not likely to be covered by insurance, as it is considered experimental by FDA. So technically, for stem cells, you'll be enrolled in some sort of medical study. It is the wild wild west when it comes to stem cell pricing, but it can cost several thousand dollars (5-10) for a treatment.