[debbiehub]

There has been recent criticism of Chinese stem cell treatment for a great number of diseases that they are advertising that it has been successful. I see no rationale for the treatment at the moment. There is a component of autoimmune disease as a pathogenic factor in RSD but there are better ways to suppress this aspect of the problem than stem cell procedures. I rarely see ketamine fail in high doses(coma). It does fail in about twenty percent of patients with subanesthetic doses. There are other treatments and drugs on the horizon that may be effective. It is always a tough problem and we certainly do n ot know all of the answers.

Best regards,

RJS

[Lynns409]

Hey there-

Not to burst anyone's bubble or anything, but I would have to agree with this response. There is really no research (at all!) on any sort of treatment for RSD with stem cells. It is hard enough to treat diseases with stem cells where the etiology is clearly known, let alone a disease/disorder where the causal factors are unknown. It is also important to note that any treatment for any condition with stem cells right now would be an experimental procedure. There are no approved treatments for any condition that involve stem cells. There are experimental trials that have been green-lit, but no actual therapies have been approved. Stem cell therapy usually involves using these cells to kind of "replace" defective cells, or regrow cells that have died off for some reason. (Like with Parkinson's- dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra die off, and these can theoretically be replaced by undifferentiated stem cells.) And for right now, there is no indication that this would help RSD, because no one really knows what causes it. Hope this helps to clarify things a bit.

Lynns

[fmichael]

Originally Posted by Lynns409

Hey there-

Not to burst anyone's bubble or anything, but I would have to agree with this response. There is really no research (at all!) on any sort of treatment for RSD with stem cells. It is hard enough to treat diseases with stem cells where the etiology is clearly known, let alone a disease/disorder where the causal factors are unknown. It is also important to note that any treatment for any condition with stem cells right now would be an experimental procedure. There are no approved treatments for any condition that involve stem cells. There are experimental trials that have been green-lit, but no actual therapies have been approved. Stem cell therapy usually involves using these cells to kind of "replace" defective cells, or regrow cells that have died off for some reason. (Like with Parkinson's- dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra die off, and these can theoretically be replaced by undifferentiated stem cells.) And for right now, there is no indication that this would help RSD, because no one really knows what causes it. Hope this helps to clarify things a bit.

Lynns

Agree but wish it were otherwise. From what I've read, stem cell research is specifically promising for neuro-regeneration. And where CRPS is not a neuro-degenerative disease per se, the only way I know that could possibly come in play would be as to the loss of gray matter that is secondary to CRPS and increases over time. See, e.g., The Brain in Chronic CRPS Pain: Abnormal Gray-White Matter Interactions in Emotional and Autonomic Regions, Geha PY, Baliki MN, Harden RN, Bauer WR, Parrish TB, Apkarian AV, Neuron 2008; 60: 570-581, full text at http://www.rsds.org/2/library/articl...aliki_etal.pdf and studies cited therein.

But just don't see the point of investing a lot of time, money and energy in doing that until the CRPS has first been shut down by idependent means.

Mike

[bassman]

I have to agree with you, Lynn and Mike. We all want there to be a magic wand that will finally get to the bottom of this. But as Lynn pointed out, they need to "get to the bottom" (find an actual and consistent cause) before they can develop a treatment.

This is not to downplay your hopes, Debbie. There have been some huge advances in all sorts of research over the years. And you never know when a treatment for some other condition might end up providing a benefit for us. That kind of thing happens all of the time. Keep up the optimistic attitude.

Mike

[debbiehub]

He emailed me back again after I told him my primary symptoms and felt I has something else going on along with the RSD, He said the muscle wasting (to the extent that it is happening to me and is my worst symtom) is rare....and I should explore other dx. I don't think there is anything else going on. I dont have MS and my blood tests have been normal. What other diseases would cause this muscle deterioration; I was dx with rsd in 2003 but had it since 1997. I Had a hip replacement the end of 2003 and that is when the RSD went haywire....any thoughts?

Debbie