What Science ACTUALLY Says About Stem Cell Injections for Arthritis

Dr. Jeff Peng provides a comprehensive analysis of stem cell therapies for treating osteoarthritis. While stem cell treatments (BMAC, SVF, and umbilical cord-derived) have generated significant interest due to their potential for repairing damaged tissues and reducing pain, recent clinical evidence suggests their effectiveness might be overstated. A major clinical trial involving nearly 500 patients showed no significant difference in pain relief or MRI scores between stem cell and cortisone treatments. Consequently, Dr. Peng currently advises against stem cell treatments for osteoarthritis, citing their high cost and uncertain benefits.
Instead, he recommends PRP injections, supported by extensive research indicating their effectiveness in pain reduction and joint function improvement. PRP is also recognized by prominent medical societies and considered a more viable and affordable option than stem cell treatments.
www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
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► ABOUT ME
Jeffrey Peng MD is a nonoperative orthopedist and sports medicine specialist. He focuses on maximizing non-surgical treatments for sports injuries and orthopedic conditions. He specializes in using orthobiologics and ultrasound guided minimally invasive techniques to treat osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and musculoskeletal disorders.
Dr. Peng is board certified in sports medicine and family medicine. He completed residency with the Stanford family medicine residency program and completed his sports medicine training with the Stanford primary care sports medicine fellowship in San Jose. He is an active faculty member for both programs and is excited about training the next generation of physicians.
Dr. Peng’s sports medicine clinic is located in Campbell, California.
Twitter: @JeffreyPengMD; / jeffreypengmd
Website: www.jeffreypengmd.com/
► Disclaimer
My content reflects my own opinion and does not represent the views or opinions of my employers or hospital systems I am affiliated with. They are meant for educational purposes only. They do not substitute for the medical advice of a physician. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding your health.

[@jasonjefferson6596]

My dad developed arthritis after a torn miniscus .. He chose not to have surgery but never did any rehab so after a few years it developed into advanced arthritis. 3 years ago he went to a stem cell hospital overseas to get injected into both knees and after 6 months he was able to do activities that he stoped doing 20 years ago!! He is now 68 years young, his knees are great but he fell and hurt his shoulder a few weeks ago. His doctor again recommends surgery. If it wasn't for the cost I would have him do stem cell therapy every year. 🍻

[@jasonjefferson6596]

@DominicAdamz he went to the Regeneration center in Thailand.

[@henrybenavides5871]

There are clinics in the US which perform stem cell therapy. He should look into doing it here.

[@troyszulhinski9382]

Hi mate I'm from Australia Living in Thailand 🇹🇭 I done stem cells injections My knees better but, grinding now. I want to know if I'll go back and do it again? And get the BOOTER 💉?

[@nabeelfageeha3371]

could you kindly give me the center name? @@jasonjefferson6596

[@brucederouen6598]

Thank you for saying this. I'm 63 and have OA after a meniscus tear repair surgery. It's KILLING me. I've had cortisone shots and they don't work for me any more. I'm currently looking into a clinic here in Houston TX, or a clinic based in Southern CA but their actual clinics are near Tijuana, Mexico. Tons of money but I gotta do something.

[@barrymc10]

I had stem cells injected in both knees and both shoulders 14 weeks ago. 6 weeks post injection in began PT. It was difficult in the beginning. I have also had no ibuprofen, alcohol or nicotine since treatment. I can report to you now that the pain from daily activities is gone. The pain from exercising: single leg squatting, like lunges are still painful, but the edge has been taken off the pain, meaning it’s more achy not sharp but still substantial but improved. 2 leg squats: nearly pain free. Shoulders: arthritis affected my sleep, now no pain at rest or daily activity. Exercise is much nearly pain free but I have purposefully kept the activity light. Range of motion has improved, I’ll call it 30-40%. Healing is suppose to last a year. So I am still very hopeful for continued progress. In July I will go back for follow MRIs to see if there is any documentable proof in the imaging and again at the 12 month mark. So far I can report that I am extremely happy I did not see this guys video and listen to this doctor before I decided to get treatment.

[@mulinzhan4167]

I went to Regenex in 2018 and had a stem cell treatment on my left knee which was screamingly painful. Within days the pain was gone and only now after 5 years is the knee in need of another treatment. This time I am going to R3 Stem Cell in Tijuana and receive a mixed PRP/Stem Treatment (allogeneic) for $3000. Considering the cost of just going to the emergency room this is not expensive and I'd be happy to pay this amount every 5 years - and keep my knee. If the data is not there to support the use of stem cells to treat a myriad of conditions it is only because the American medical establishment does not want this low cost, non-pharmacological, scientific breakthrough to be brought to market in the US.

[@jamesbalsai8752]

Very risky getting this done in Mexico. Both level of expertise questionable. Is that doc have the proper credentials, what Are you really getting in that vial? It hasn’t been proven to successfully treat arthritis! Save your money. No stem cell.

[@jayknight139]

that's exactly what i was thinking. way to many people say it works to ignore this a potential treatment something is fishy .

[@Barbc24]

Yeah but he just wrote yhat it did work for him. @@jamesbalsai8752

[@BJO-s1000xr]

Did you go regenexx in Cayman Islands. I'm from Australia and looking at travelling there for therapy in both my knees.

[@donnarowell8281]

I had my doctor tell me I needed rotator cuff surgery immediately. I refused. I then sought out stem cell injections and had the injections. I can tell you I am 100% better and pain-free and that was two years ago. Big Pharma will never let this come and be paid for by insurance Never. Once you are cured, there’s no more money to make from you.

[@megaMitch1960]

By the way, great video. Very informative

[@bigdougscommentary5719]

When this guy started hawking his own treatment, his credibility went right out the window. Notice he was very specific about a study of 500 patients when knocking the stem cell treatment option, but vague about studies he touted as supporting his own treatment.

[@necdetbalcik1104]

Have you any opinion on hydrojell injection for knee arthrite?

[@baronessvarney9379]

I had an MRI that found 2 torn miniscus, and a bone spur in my left knee and medium to advanced arthritis in both knees. I had stem cells from a delivered placenta injected into both knees 7 years ago and within a few weeks my knees were like new! I am 70 years old, my knees had been hurting so badly, but I did not want to do aurgery. I would recommend the type of stem cells I had! Cost 7 years ago was $7,500 total.

[@leaderofthepack02]

Can you walk regularly after stem cell treatment or you had to wear crutch, and how many days for recovery after stem cell treatment?

[@baronessvarney9379]

@@leaderofthepack02 Honestly, I wore a knee brace the first night to bed on my knee that had the two torn miniscus. But the next morning I could tell I was miles better already! I never even wore the knee brace again. It must sound like I'm making it up, but I'm not! Within probably a month I was like new and have been ever since. For me, it really worked. I think if insurance covered it, so many more would be fixed instead of surgeries and steroid injections, etc. Good luck!!

[@leaderofthepack02]

Thanks for your reply..

[@baronessvarney9379]

@@leaderofthepack02 👍🏻😊👍🏻

[@RL-re2so]

@baronessvarney9379 where did you go for treatment and how long was it.

[@jeffreykoski2746]

Dr. Peng, thank you for all of your videos! I can't help but notice that you have never touched on red light therapy for arthritis. If you could, maybe you could address this. Thank you.

[@JeffreyPengMD]

Sure, will add that to the list

[@jtoth1234summer]

I Know this is off the subject, but I just watched your blood pressure (When to take your medication) I am on losartan hydroclorithiazide, which is a diuretic. I take in the morning because of the obvious reason. What do you suggest? Thank you New subscriber.

[@KMennen]

I am curious about adipose stem cell therapy combined with PRP therapy. I was recently offered this option and the cost was much higher.

[@rodrigosepulveda4559]

I have had PRP shots and Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell shot and the MSC shot far superior than the PRP shot, 1) PRP only calms down inflammation and it’s short lived, after 6 months you are back to where you started. Cortisone shots only reduces pain and it’s temporary. Whereas umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell shots (MSC shots) are highly effective a reducing inflammation, reduces grinding, increases mobility, it repairs scar tissue and potentially regenerates cartilage in a period of 8-12 months, and it’s permanent.

[@SallySamsara]

What clinic did you use? Thanks for your comment.

[@sapelesteve]

Very interesting and informative video Doc! Question: Are there any doctors that you can recommend in the state of CT that do PRP injections for the knee & hip? Thanks! 👍👍

[@JeffreyPengMD]

Not that I know of, sorry!

[@jrennickemd]

Great video explaining the nuance of stem cells. It’s so hard because all of the data is so heterogenous, so it’s hard to extrapolate the findings, and anecdotally we just know there is such a wide variety of symptom improvement with ANY injection. That being said, it sure is hard to justify $3k+ for something that may or may not work. Great work!

[@JeffreyPengMD]

Thanks for commenting!

[@Kzn777D]

What about these x39 pads can someone give an honest response pls ?

[@ts.nathan7786]

Give a video to explain stem cell treatment for meniscus treatment.

[@user-tj9uy3ud3o]

3 years ago I did bone marrow derived stem cell therpy on both knees in the USA. It was/is one of the best decisions i've ever made. I've been nearly pain free since. And now you tell me it likely didn't work! Well, something sure changed . What do you think it was?

[@SallySamsara]

What clinic please?

[@debcatz8445]

What do you think about Infra red laser and vibration massager

[@JeffreyPengMD]

Some people swear by them, worth a try

[@believerrrrr]

Off topic... but do you think prp or stem cells would help in SIJ instability? Specifically healing and tightening the ligaments around the SIJ? I'm only 17 and have tried all normal ways of therapy you can think of. I'm doing prolozone currently but am only on my second injection with no relief. Thank you sir!

[@megaMitch1960]

I think it will help you a lot, but you must find the underlying issue. I woke up every night for five years stretching my right hamstring so I can go back to sleep. Come to find out it was an abductor tear in my groin, ultrasound will detect a lot of muscular injuries that MRI do not pick up. Google ROSM, they can help.

[@christodoulosamorgianos3643]

I know that some doctors aspirate bone marrow from iliac bone and directly injecting it Interarticular for arthritis treatment with good results. It is common practice by famous Dr in Venezuela.

[@leandromantovani4282]

Hi Doctor Peng, I would like to know if the PRP method could be used on another painful joint like hips or if it’s exclusive to the knee joint. Thank you 🙏

[@Cocoandindy]

I had PRP in my hip yesterday. In Barcelona it cost 300 euros. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@leandromantovani4282]

@@Cocoandindy thanks for the answer . I wish you all the best👍😉

[@thanosfisherman]

​@@Cocoandindywhere did you have the PRP in Barcelona? The ones I asked will charge 3200€ for intra-articular + intraosseous. It's crazy.

[@TrentonSoto]

I really saw stem cells as something that could be very promising in terms of regenerative medicine. Is there a way we could use an adjunct therapy with stem cells to enhance results? I would like to see stem cells used beside other novel immunotherapies following stem cell injections to see the other possible outcomes.

[@JeffreyPengMD]

The current version of stem cell therapy in the US is NOT what most people think of when they see "STEM CELLS". The current version is adult mesenchymal stem cells that are not cultured or lab expanded and are not pluripotent. I think whenever research catches up, stem cell therapy will be the future. Just maybe not in its current state

[@comjag]

Would you recommend regular PRP injections as a prophylactic to people who have had previous joint trauma or arthroscopies but may not be experiencing any pain in the moment. Also it seems unclear to me why take up of PRP injections has been slow amongst sports medicine specialists or orthopaedic doctors.

[@JeffreyPengMD]

There's insufficient data to use PRP as prophylaxis. However, it is being studied. Conceptually, it makes 100% to do it prophylactically.

[@diannefitzmaurice9813]

Hey - if it wasn't for the bias going into the study would there be different conclusions?. First a long term good outcome is fine if it truly happens esp if surgery is not an option! Comparing it to cortisone injection is kind of misplaced because the cortisone does not last for a year! So doesn't make much sense . It is only known to last for 6 months if that . And over the long term like 3 + years side effects start to show up on the cortisone injection - so did they account for side effects of stem cell injectons?. I still think this holds the best promise - we just haven't figured out how to get the better results overall. But the biggest issue is the bias of the medical community . It is holding back any good research! Start funding for the public good and not the pockets of the med and pharmaceutical communitites and a big change would happen. This is what is the most likely prognosis!

[@scrabbleking1965]

What do think about Prolozone injections and Prolozone combined with PRP?

[@JeffreyPengMD]

Definitely not enough data behind prolozone

[@scrabbleking1965]

@@JeffreyPengMD That is one of the things I like about you, if you recommend something we can all rest assured the studies and meta analysis indicate that it is unequivocally effective. I am in the Philippines and it just so happens that the biggest blood draw I can find at any hospital is 15 ml yielding about 3ml max of PRP. I found a clinic that specializes in ozone therapy, they offer a 38 ml blood draw yielding 7 ml of PRP for about half the price. They also offer the option to inject ozone at the same time as PRP.

[@SallySamsara]

Did the negative stem cell trials use an adequate count of cells? We know PRP won't work optimally unless the platelet count is 10 billion.

[@somayemorabbi4590]

Hello, the ligament & meniscus of my knee are injured due to an accident when I was cycling. The doctors suggested injecting PRP or Exosome. What would you think of the effectiveness in the treatment? Thanks!

[@sherankoay6956]

Same thing here, hv been suffering since aug 2023. I probably go for Exosome

[@somayemorabbi4590]

@@sherankoay6956 what I searched for, Exosome or PRP is not a solution. These methods might remove the pain for a while but the problem stays there. Physiotherapy is the best solution if the tear is not severe. Good luck & wishing you recovery soon🪻

[@megaMitch1960]

Try it, I just had stem cell and bone marrow injections. I had tried everything else I go back for PRP treatment in a few weeks. I think I’m finally making some headway. If you’re in pain like I was, you will try anything. Google ROSM if your anywhere near Annapolis Md, they will help you

[@daveriddle2236]

Have any PRP reviews yet shown some, even a little, reparation of knee cartilage? I'm pleased with my PRP results thus far but wonder what the next best promising therapy being studied may be other than stem cell therapies and that might actually repair cartilage? Thanks!

[@JeffreyPengMD]

To date, there is zero evidence that ANYTHING can repair or regenerate cartilage. This is one of the main reasons why prevention is key for those suffering from osteoarthritis.

[@joeblow5965]

​@@JeffreyPengMD scholar.google.ca/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&as_vis=1&q=stem+cells+for+thickened+cartilage+clinical+trials+&btnG#d=gs_qabs&t=1708833574986&u=%23p%3DRYt2HqXuttQJ

[@joeblow5965]

​@@JeffreyPengMDscholar.google.ca/scholar?q=stem+cells+osteoarthritis+clinical+trials&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart#d=gs_qabs&t=1708834005395&u=%23p%3DxgpXbYXxhe0J

[@thanosfisherman]

There are published studies from doctors in Kuala Lumpur suggesting a protocol which CAN actually regenerate cartilage up to 95% They use a combo of PRP+MSC+ hyaluronic acid. The protocol is called K.A.R.T. look it up.

[@thanosfisherman]

Moreover I've been following an old lady on IG who had this done to her knee and documented her progress. She's completely fine now.

[@thinkhine8866]

What is lubricant injection ? What medicine name of lubricant ?

[@JeffreyPengMD]

You mean hyaluronic acid injections?

[@dd61882]

@@JeffreyPengMDcan this help in shoulders?

[@bishopruger]

Met with a doctor about PRP and he thought it would not be effective for moderate to severe osteoarthritis, would you concur? Also, what are your thoughts on Monovisc injections?

[@JeffreyPengMD]

PRP can be very effective for moderate to severe osteoarthritis, though the effects won't last as long as those with mild to moderate. Monovisc (hyaluronic acid) works well, lasts about 6 months

[@bishopruger]

@JeffreyPengMD thank you. I appreciate the response

[@Itisan82]

What about Cartistem that had been approved and Commercialized in South Korea and is in phase 3 clinical trial in Japan and Phase 1/2a in US? Do you have any opinion here?

[@lati_da]

Restore PDX offers bone marrow and adipose derived stem cells. They have great results with their patients

[@debcatz8445]

Are two many cortisone shots bad

[@JeffreyPengMD]

Yup

[@Dr.LuisPelaez]

Stem cell institute es 100% the best clinic worldwide

[@espieflores1872]

Tnk u Dr JF

[@Hydrosurfer68]

Even with "good doctors" you've gotta love how the pharma training and PR immersion in medical school leads the narrative(s). So easy to say "the overall evidence remains inconclusive" :))) when you don't like an outcome (check the smile at 2:25, ha). Tell them 90% truth and then pull the plug with the classic confirmation bias and calling out anything else that smells like anecdote. It ultimately comes down to patentability for all of the allopathic communities... stem cells just aren't fitting to the business model that everyone is trained to love and believe. Corticoid steroids cause degradation of the joint. Agree with the PRP

[@necdetbalcik1104]

Hydrogel (arthrosamid)

[@necdetbalcik1104]

İ wait your ideas on hydrogel(arthrosamid), urgently.

[@JeffreyPengMD]

I'm hesitant to recommend anything if there are no randomized placebo controlled trials

[@hafriz8746]

Prp still the best

[@necdetbalcik1104]

Hydrogel

[@jbgoode3897]

Dang, I wish every thing was as safe as Covid vaccines

[@juliens329]

I am not agree with you There’s no negative consequences after stems cells injections But there’s big cartilage damage after corticosteroids infection

[@music55ism]

This video sucks. Stem cells saved my life. Western medicine blows.

[@chriscarterdavies5998]

I'm so confused. I have post surgical arthritis in my feet.The doctor had to reattach a ligament from my ankle to my foot. I only turned it in soft sand and didn't realize until I sat down in the evening and saw my ankle was swollen. 5 doctors and a year later I found a doctor who diagnosed what was really going on. I didn't have arthritis before the surgery. Then, I got what is known as bilateral arthritis- both feet. I did a 21 day detox (in 8 days) to get ready for the stem cells and I lost faith in the doctor who did the detox. He owes me $$$ and refuses to give me my pre and post test results. I went back to the doctor who did the surgery to pick his brain and he said he would inject them. Now, I'm wondering about the quality. I live in S. Florida. Or, I was considering Cellebration in San Jose, Costa Rica. Really don't want to spend $25,000 and not get good results and have to go back and forth. I know a person who sells stem cells to doctors in S. FL. and he would provide them to the injecting doctor for $2,500. and another $2,500 for exesomes. HELP!!! What would you do?

[@hbrown3953]

By🥲😆🥲😛😘🥹

[@4057hofft]

This guy is a paid shill

[@bigdougscommentary5719]

BS.

[@HELLKING52]

I went to dream body clinic in puerto vahartta and got great result i did intertrical for the back and IV no pain after the treatment for the first month and the peak results are after 3 months. So my testimony is that it works the U.S stem cell in my opinion is trash compared to oversea and the cost is cheaper but the reason is because big pharma want people to stay on pills and subscriptions.

[@JohnDoe-zz3hj]

well known study showed nursing home peeps had increase in stem cells from eating doses of dark chocolate, then they find out ton of candium and lead are in dark chocolate. My back pain healed but then I got some nerve damage from the metals in chocolate . I have done more to repair myself,,, one dr gave me shot of cortisone in my shoulder and the pain never came back. but other than that pain, pain killers from doctors have done zero to heal me, it was all about my bed, pillows and stretching and gym, morning morning walks, chocolate, lot older here and i now realize Drs have fixed bout 10% of old age pain. still no fountain of youth that the doctors will sell you,,, just eat a pain med is all they can do,,,,,, injuries are a different story,,, old age they aint curing anyone All the doctors do for old folks is make for long miserable slow death