Combo Treatment

[MILKMAN73]

I'm 47 and I'm currently on TRT. Hard younger life and my body is feeling it. Plagued with injuries in both shoulders and both knees.

My orth doc has been talking about stem cell treatments. He's very unsure about it working in my right knee as he's not sure if there is any cartilage there left for it to take. But insurance is going to pay for it, so I think it's worth a shot to try and avoid a total knee replacement at my age.

My question, what are your thoughts on adding injectable peptides before/after the stem cell injections? It'd be on my own, as the doc hasn't mentioned it, but costs seems rather minimal and seems like risk of side effects is small.

Thoughts?

I just really not wanting a total knee replacement, but one knee is really shot. I'm willing to try about anything at this point.

[kelkel]

Anything's worth a shot, but without any cartilage in one you definitly have an issue.
Look into the following:

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/art...o-use-bpc-157/

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/art...to-use-tb-500/

Not to mention the benefits of GH and low dose var for collagen synthesis.

[MILKMAN73]

Kelkel, I'm an old member (user to be here well over a decade ago), so know the rules...

I'd be more than happy to to give Gh & Var a shot! I was just thinking of trying the peptides before Gh since the cost is less and it's easier to come by (and I know I'm getting real stuff).

With Var, it seems impossible to get real stuff. I get corticosteroid injections in both knees and on shoulder every few months, and have for years. So have hoped one of the docs would give me an Rx, but no luck yet.

My wife even looked forever, but didn't trust she would get legit stuff.

When I was younger and dumber I didn't care as much. Now close to 50, I am only using Rx stuff at the moment.

[kelkel]

Kelkel, I'm an old member (user to be here well over a decade ago), so know the rules...

I'd be more than happy to to give Gh & Var a shot! I was just thinking of trying the peptides before Gh since the cost is less and it's easier to come by (and I know I'm getting real stuff).

With Var, it seems impossible to get real stuff. I get corticosteroid injections in both knees and on shoulder every few months, and have for years. So have hoped one of the docs would give me an Rx, but no luck yet.

My wife even looked forever, but didn't trust she would get legit stuff.

When I was younger and dumber I didn't care as much. Now close to 50, I am only using Rx stuff at the moment.

When it comes to GH, take a look at MK-677 as it will raise IGF-1 substantially and works very well. Available at many peptide warehouses as well and its sublingual, not an injection. From my personal experience as well as many others here it works great and is not that expensive considering most pep warehouses always have BOGO sales or similar. I do tons of blood work and without question it works.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9467534/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2757071/

[MILKMAN73]

Maybe I'll do some more research then. I've used Gh YEARS ago but the peptides are all new to me. From my initial research, it seemed to indicate that peptides work, especially for injury rehab, but were only effective in injection form.

[MILKMAN73]

PS

When I mentioned having no cartilage in one knee, the doc said something along the lines of "none to very little." They are pretty hopeful on the stem cell treatment for my left knee and shoulder. For the right knee, he kind of shrugged and and was like it can't hurt.

[kelkel]

Maybe I'll do some more research then. I've used Gh YEARS ago but the peptides are all new to me. From my initial research, it seemed to indicate that peptides work, especially for injury rehab, but were only effective in injection form.

BPC and TB500 are injections, so yes. MK is oral and doesn't get simpler. My new order of it just arrives yesterday.

PS

When I mentioned having no cartilage in one knee, the doc said something along the lines of "none to very little." They are pretty hopeful on the stem cell treatment for my left knee and shoulder. For the right knee, he kind of shrugged and and was like it can't hurt.

It sucks I know. I've been getting knee shots for several years now. Started with Hyaluronic Acid which is one injection in each knee for three weeks. Lasted me about 6 months. I then tried a new product called Zilretta which is a long lasting corticosteroid and only one injection of 5ml. This product is F'n amazing. Felt like new knees the next day. Lasted me about 5 months using more caution than normal on leg days. Ortho wanted me to rotate between the two which I had no problem with. Actually just got done my 3 weeks of Hyaluronic Acid injections. Look them up.

[The Deadlifting Dog]

I am waiting for my knee injections. I am missing half the cartiledge in the inner portion of my left knee.
I hope I can compete again.

Just recently got PRP in my rotator cuff. Seemed to help.

[kelkel]

I am waiting for my knee injections. I am missing half the cartiledge in the inner portion of my left knee.
I hope I can compete again.

Just recently got PRP in my rotator cuff. Seemed to help.

Push for the Zilretta if you can DD. How'd the prp go for you? When I had my prp shot my ortho was able to pull out 5ml or platelets and injected 4ml. Hurt like a MF'er for about 4-5 days or so. It did make a big difference which was more and more noticable after 5 weeks or so (from memory).

[MILKMAN73]

What's PRP?

I'm getting the Hyaluronic Acid shots starting in a couple of weeks (that's the one that's like 3 shots over a period of a couple of weeks and you get it ever 6 months, yes?).

For several years now I've been getting corticosteroid shots every 3 months and a gel shot ever 4 months.

For the life of me I cannot remember what the name of the gel shot is, but it is a huge syringe and it hurts like a MF'r! The last one I got actually hurt for almost a week. But it was worth it, as it helped with long term pain.

New ortho (surgical consult) basically said that even though I'm only 47, I probably need a knee replacement. He recommended trying the 3 part shots to see if we could prolong it a while longer. That is where the stem cells are coming into play, too (along with a shoulder injury, blah blah blah just old man stuff).

[kelkel]

What's PRP?

I'm getting the Hyaluronic Acid shots starting in a couple of weeks (that's the one that's like 3 shots over a period of a couple of weeks and you get it ever 6 months, yes?).

For several years now I've been getting corticosteroid shots every 3 months and a gel shot ever 4 months.

For the life of me I cannot remember what the name of the gel shot is, but it is a huge syringe and it hurts like a MF'r! The last one I got actually hurt for almost a week. But it was worth it, as it helped with long term pain.

New ortho (surgical consult) basically said that even though I'm only 47, I probably need a knee replacement. He recommended trying the 3 part shots to see if we could prolong it a while longer. That is where the stem cells are coming into play, too (along with a shoulder injury, blah blah blah just old man stuff).

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient's own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. In this way, PRP injections use each individual patient's own healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems.

Pasted the above but basically they pull your own blood, spin it in a centrifuge while you wait and remove the platelets. They then inject it into and around the injured area which speeds up healing. Usually not covered by insurance. Costs about a grand.

Yes, the HA shots are three weeks in a row. I'm telling ya, push your doc to give Zilretta a try.

[MILKMAN73]

Ah OK. I've researched just about every joint treatment known to man.

I currently get a corticosteroid shot every 3 months. I assume it's extended release (like Zilretta?). I start the 3-part shots in a couple weeks. I remember reading up on the blood thing. Not covered by insurance is probably why the doctor has never mentioned it. The gel shots I got every 4 months hurt like Hell, but helped long term.

One of the biggest issues I have is swelling when I'm on my feet for any extended amount of time. It gets to the point where it's painful to walk. Swelling is from just about the knee all the way to my toes in both feet.

After living with it for so long and doing my own research, I'm convinced it is chronic venous insufficienc. Due to all the trauma in my knees, I've damaged one of the one-way valves in a vein in each leg, which is causing blood to pool. But doctors can be so single minded. I go in and they just micro focus on the knee itself each time. Drives me nuts.