My 88 year old father has been experiencing severe right knee pain since last Sep. that seemed to come on suddenly. An MRI showed severe degeneration of the joint (bone on bone) along with meniscus and ACL tears.
He has had 3 prolotherapy injections with no benefit and the doctor suggested stopping them. He also had 3 prolozone injections again with no benefit and that doctor suggested stopping as well. He then had 3 PRP injections, and once again, no benefit - only more pain for a couple weeks after each injection. Now it seems the only option left is stem cells, as my father is not a candidate for surgery due to other health problems. The price is definitely scary: starting at $2,500 and up depending on which doctor in the area he goes to. The most expensive one is $5,000 and does not use guided imaging (fluroscopy, ultrasound) but the other dr. uses it and charges $4,000 but it seems to only be a hobby for him - only performing the injections once per week, as he is otherwise a "general practioner". There is another doctor closer who uses guided imaging and charges $2,500. None of them give any prognosis or have any information on stem cells working on someone with such severe joint issues.
Has anyone here had or know of anyone who had stem cell injections for severe bone on bone knee arthritis or for someone of this age? My father's worried that if he spends that much money and it doesn't work, that he will be out the money with no pain relief and having to have the surgery anyway even with the risks. Would the guided imaging be better than a "blind" injection into the joint as some doctors do?
