My Journey with Arthritis and Stem Cell Rejuvenation

I didn't know what to expect for the first three days. I heard of people having immediate relief. I heard of other having greater inflammation in their joints, sometimes lasting for a few weeks. Our drive home was 650kms. So with some stops, we left LaCombe, Alberta  just before 11am and got home to Prince Albert,  Saskatchewan at 7pm. As mentioned in the previous blog, I  experienced some pain for which Tylenol was strong enough. However I was slow moving and each step seemed unstable. The first few stops for gas and meals I used my cane. In Battleford we stopped for gas and I didn't use my cane and as I stepped into the store I felt like I staggered and was awarded a strange stare by the gas station attendant.  I'm sure he thought I had been drinking. Sharon's car was very comfortable for travelling. I was able to recline the seat and turn the heated seats on low. My recovery instructions stressed I am not to use any anti-inflammatory pills or lotion for fo...

My appointment is at 9:30. I went to the same location as the previous day and was told to go to bay one, just a couple doors down the small mall. The door at bay one lists five the doctors names and the Kinesiologist. I got there at 9am and was taken into a treatment room almost immediately. In my brief time in the waiting room another couple emerged from a treatment room. The man was moving around, pacing and making statements about being stiff. I said "you are making me nervous I didn't think the stiffness was to occur for a few days ". He responded that it wasn't bad, but he had five joints done - and didn't take any laughing gas. He had a 9 hour drive ahead of him. In the treatment room the RN Linda took my vitals signs and explained what would be happening this morning. She answered all the questions I had. Linda was very warm and friendly and it was easy to share all my concerns.  She indicated that the pain usually is not too great for most people b...

May 23rd. My friend Sharon agreed to drive me to my appointments.  We travelled on Monday to her sister's home in Beaumont, Alberta. We stayed overnight and left for LaCombe in the morning as my appointment was scheduled for 11:30am. We found the clinic after we drove by it a couple times. Shortly after 12noon I met Dr. David Playfair. He reviewed my xrays with me asked me some questions about my pain. He appeared interested in the  soft lumps on my ankles. He asked about previous xrays and treatments I had. (None). He suggested that it might be something called Sinus  Tarsi Sinus tarsi syndrome (STS)  is the clinical syndrome of pain and tenderness of the lateral side of the hindfoot, between the ankle and the heel. Imaging often demonstrates the ligaments and soft tissues in the  sinus tarsi  are injured. He injected a freezing agent into the lump on my left ankle and told me to do some walking today. If less pain occurs the it may be Sinus Tarsi...

After I returned from my 8 months holidays, travelling around the world (Cambodia, China, Iceland, Costa Rica, and more) and returning to an office setting I quickly stiffened up in most of my joints. My doctor ordered another xray which showed significant deterioration in the left knee since the xray only two years before. I finally agreed it was time to consider a knee replacement.  She made the referral and I was scheduled to meet with a team for assessment. Prior to my appointment, a friend told me about stem cell treatment which her father and a few other family members had used. After some reading I decided this was the route for me to take. I filled out the forms, revisited my doctor and had her sign the referral forms and send me for xrays on my right side as well. My doctor was aware of such treatments but was not aware of any happening in Canada. She is interested in how my experience will work. Very quickly I received a call from Capri Clinic. I scheduled an appoi...

My last posting brought you up to 2010. Eventually the swelling went down in my legs, but it took a couple years (yes, years) No reason was ever found. I still get swelling in the evenings or after walking too much, but with Advil, Aleve or something similar it is manageable. The fascia in my feet appeared to heal, but occasionally they still hurt and ache. I do not like to walk even for a short distance without orthotics. My orthotics are thick, full-length and don't fit in nice sandals or dress shoes. I wear runners or motorcycle boots. I have a soft leather ankle dress boot that I can wear with my orthotic, which I do when I have work related meetings. However, I know that I will be in pain after wearing the dress boot - with orthotics - for only a short time. In 2010 or 11, my hips began to hurt. This affected my sleep. The role in fascia is not well understood. Links to rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. Chronic back pain my be linked to fascia thickening. The following quot...

My arthritis was not a consistent problem.  Many weeks would go by without any pain. Then the pain would be really great. I can remember too much pain when riding in a car down a bumpy road. I remember not wanting to ride in a boat on a rough windy day when my own children were really small. I remember hating to stand at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes as it hurt my back and feet. I remember feeling very inadequate when just preparing a meal was too hard. I remember not being able to lift my grandchild. My pain never remained consistent until about 2010. And even since then, I've had long periods where my arthritis was an inconvenience. My first time to an orthopedic surgeon was in 1993. This was for pain in my left foot.  A lump appeared between my third and fourth toe. If it had been between the 2nd and 3rd toe it would most likely have been a Morton's Neuroma. The surgeon at that time, and subsequent surgeons never knew what to call it, or what it was. Although we could...

I'm about try Stem Cell rejuvenation for my arthritis. For those who are considering such, I thought documenting my journey may  give some others some Hope - if it works, and some additional things to consider if it doesn't work. However, I intend on giving some background on my attempts to manage arthritis up to now. I was either 14 or 15 years old when I was first was told I had arthritis. My chiropractor said the discomfort in my back was due to arthritis and he could see some curvature in the spine. Regular chiropractic treatments have helped alleviate the pain and stiffness frequently throughout the years. So I have had  arthritis for 44 years. Luckily, my arthritis has never been debilitating. Even during my most extreme periods of pain and stiffness, I have been able to work and do almost everything I needed too. However, during the past few years kneeling, playing with the grandchildren, and walking or climbing has become too difficult. "Osteoarthritis  ( OA...