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My Mom was told the same thing 15 years ago, by a specialist in a private hospital in Gaudalajara who managed to take a look at her scans, which were being used for something completely unrelated. "You'll be in a wheelchair forever". "Pay me just $12,000 US and I can fix your spine today". Well. 15 years later, she used a walker, yes, when she was 83...

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4 hours ago, Wookie said:

I suppose I still have negative feelings about being told I needed surgery right away on my spine and if I walked out the door of the office I could be in a wheelchair the rest of my life.  I object to others maybe having the same advise.  

 

4 hours ago, Wookie said:

I suppose I still have negative feelings about being told I needed surgery right away on my spine and if I walked out the door of the office I could be in a wheelchair the rest of my life.  I object to others maybe having the same advise.  

I totally get that.  Same thing happened to me twice down here.  |I have spinal stenosis and was told I would be in a wheelchair if I didn't get a  3 level spinal fusion immediately!!  I ran (well, limped) away as fast as I could.  Now, after a year of continual physical therapy and daily exercise I am still "not in a wheel chair!"  Guess we will always be "the wallets" here.  Arghhh.

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On 4/11/2018 at 2:14 PM, RickS said:

Could u define "excellent results" for me por favor. Was any kind of "x-ray" used to guide the platelet needle into the knee or just "blind"?

 

We supplied X-Ray's to her for review prior to the injections.  Both of us had experienced a substantial reduction in pain in our knees.  Not everyone will have this success and she'll advise you, prior to the procedure, of your chances

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I do appreciate everyone's comments and input here.  Although the topic was Stem Cell Therapy, in this case,  it is good that some have mentioned similar type treatments as it helps me become of aware of other potential options. 

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On 4/13/2018 at 11:59 AM, joco69 said:

Having known Dr.Aceves for 30+ years I would trust his judgement, he was originally a GP -Microbiologist, years ago he got interested in new techniques such as Stem-Cell. I trust Dr.Aceves, he is a good man and doctor.

What else can you tell me about Dr. Aceves?  Is he no longer a GP?  What is his specialty? What does he treat?

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On 4/14/2018 at 2:39 PM, Zeb said:

What else can you tell me about Dr. Aceves?  Is he no longer a GP?  What is his specialty? What does he treat?

He is still a GP and a very good one, his speciality is still being a Microbiologist. He did continue to expand his medical knowledge into HCG therapy, stem cell etc. Check out his add in Ojo del Lago, pag 32, april edition. 

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On 4/19/2018 at 6:21 PM, joco69 said:

He is still a GP and a very good one, his speciality is still being a Microbiologist. He did continue to expand his medical knowledge into HCG therapy, stem cell etc. Check out his add in Ojo del Lago, pag 32, april edition. 

Thanks!  I just found it.  I will call him.

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Dr Alejandro Moya Traumatologist graduate in Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara expert on joints replacement of knee and hip replacement also work with rich platelets plasma and acid hialuronic he speak english.

number of contact 0052-13314577668

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  • 1 month later...

My Stem Cell Therapy has been a TOTAL NIGHTMARE .

 

On 4/18/18  I had stem cells and PRP injected into both knees by Dr Aceves in his Ajijic clinic.  He specializes in rejuvenation and  anti-aging treatments and is qualified in stem cell therapy. My knees had been bothering me for a month or so, and I was treating the stem cells therapy as a preventative measure, avoiding possible knee replacement down the road.  They used my own fat cells to cultivate the (adipose) stem cells, and for a week I was fine. In fact my knees felt better.  Dr Aceves said there was a 20% chance the treatment might not work, BUT he gave no risk factor of what could possibly go wrong.  He also claimed to have treated 60 to 70 patients with knee injections. Were they all successful.?  Who knows???

This is a factual statement of my experience 

 

Ten days later, on 4/28/18 my knees started to hurt, and the left one began to swell badly.  Dr Aceves gave me antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.  The next day the pain and swelling was so bad I had to be admitted to Ajijic Hospital. The orthopedic surgeon on duty drained 4 big syringes of fluid from my knee, something Aceves had attempted the day before, but was unable to do. I went home to rest but was readmitted 2 days later by ambulance in unbearable, mind blowing pain. I needed a stretcher because I couldn’t get down the steps.  There I was for two days on an antibiotic IV and a lot of painkillers. 

It’s been 7 weeks since the initial procedure.  I’ve received treatment from two other local doctors and the inflammation is slowly subsiding.  Chronic inflammation (as opposed to acute) is not apparent for about a week, and the healing is slow, weeks or even months.  I’m using a cane to protect the knee for now.  

I asked Dr Aceves to refund my money, and he did. I think he had no idea what went wrong and wanted to distance himself completely. He’s expensive, so I was relieved to get my money back, but it has cost me so much more in medications, other doctors bills, hospital fees etc...not to mention the pain and suffering. He has never contacted me to see how I was doing.  

Because I was totally unable to shop, or even cook for myself, I had to move into Alicia’s Assisted Living for this last month. I was so fortunate that they had an available room. The friendly care and accommodation has made a difficult situation a lot easier.

I still believe in the concept of Stem cell therapy, BUT, there is RISK involved. I would recommend Dr Justina, near Dental Express for more information on the therapy. She thinks I may have had an allergic reaction to the liquid the stem cells are cultured in.  She tells all of her patients of the risk factor normally will start with systematic treatment.  I believe the unguided needle into the knees capsule can be DANGEROUS.  It certainly was for me.

My new orthopedic Doctor has really helped reduce the inflammation.  I can highly recommend Dr Armando Rabadan for his insight and skill. He is an orthopedic doctor (not a surgeon) and a physical therapist. Tel 376 766 1731.  I feel better with every visit.

So, I’m FINALLY on the road to recovery, but it’s truly been a totally agonizing and expensive  NIGHTMARE and not something I would like to see anyone else go through!  

 

 

Edited by Terri Davenport
Increase font size..... couldn’t do it
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On Fri Apr 13 2018 at 1:24 PM, Wookie said:

I suppose I still have negative feelings about being told I needed surgery right away on my spine and if I walked out the door of the office I could be in a wheelchair the rest of my life.  I object to others maybe having the same advise.  

Experienced this "urgent" surgery as well. It did not occur and the outcome was normal therefore I have to consider the motivation for this advice. 

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If you had an allergic reaction, how could Dr Aceves  know that in advance?

I would not have gone to Ajijic Hospital (Clinic.) 

I don't understand, if you were practicing yoga before the procedure, why do the procedure? Take anti-inflammatories until nothing works and you must have a more drastic treatment. It is like back surgery. Don't have it without MRIs, discograms, myelogram or other tests first. Then only have surgery if PT or other conservative treatments cannot help. Any surgery is always risky. 

You are lucky you are recovering and you can afford the recovery. 

 

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On 4/11/2018 at 5:29 PM, Wookie said:

Once again, I strenuously object to Dr. Santiago being able to advertise his services on this webboard.

Why can't Dr Santiago weigh in with a professional opinion, facts on the topic being discussed,  just as everybody else is giving opinions, experiences, advice, etc.

An MD giving pertinent info--like what his practice has to offer--seems to me legit.Take it or leave it. It isn't advertising. Advertising is a paid-for ad. Consider how often Attorney Spencer posts opinions and services and what his staff does and everybody thanks him no end.

I've never met Santiago. I have no personal experience with him. But it seems to me he has a right to express a reaction here to any topic, no?

Lexy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a

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Maybe we are all considered "wallets".  Same thing NOB, where the indication for surgery was a current insurance policy or a prosperous client. I dodged a bullet once or twice there, being both skeptical and stubborn.  Here in paradise, more than one orthopedic doctor was ready and willing to do heavy duty spinal surgery.   Fortunately, I received some helpful advice from a former fellow sufferer who recommended a neurosurgeon who had treated her with a far less invasive procedure: vertebroplasty. Required a one night stay in the hospital, a local anesthetic and a fraction of the cost  and recovery time.  Moral: get second, third and maybe fourth opinions before going under the knife for anything.  You wallet may thank you, too.

I think the statement made about the best treatment for knee troubles is keeping one's weight down is both mainly true but a little simplistic.  Some structural problems are genetic. 

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On 6/6/2018 at 8:25 PM, Metuchenmama said:

Dra.  Justina used stem cells for her diabetes.  She is an outstanding doctor.  I would trust her completely and choose her over Hernandez any day.

We met with her.  She was not diabetic.  She had Fibromyalgia.

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  • 8 months later...
On 4/11/2018 at 3:38 PM, Guiness said:

Can this be done to help with spinal stenosis?  

I called Dr. Santiago's office for pricing to inject 10 million stem cells via IV. The gentleman quoted 2800 pesos, which is what several of my friends payed recently. When I had a consultation with Dr. Santiago he wanted 4500 pesos. He said that the lab in Guadalajara tells him what to charge and that is the price. I told him that I didn't just fall off the turnip truck...that was years ago and I'm much better.

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On 4/10/2018 at 11:28 PM, Wookie said:

I am wondering if mesenchimal stem cells introduced into the blood stream through means of an IV would be sufficient.  The stem cells that Dra. Justina is using are mesenchimal stem cells harvested from placenta.  I am aware that this procedure is being done in this manner and helping the whole body by the cells addressing all the problem areas and not just localized.  I am not an expert on this by any means :)  When we considered this procedure we did as much research as we could and then talked to a couple of doctors.  We will report the outcome of this more generalized treatment as time goes by.  We should know in a couple of months just how effective it is for our purposes.  My husband has had 1 infusion of 50 million mesenchimal stem cells and will receive the same once a week for the next 2 weeks.  We are told it will take 2 to 3 months to improve acute lymphopenia and a badly damaged immune system.  At any rate, this will be a proveable situation through blood studies.  He has had no adverse reactions whatsoever so far.  It is our understanding not only from our doctor but from research we read on the National Institute of Health's website that these type of stem cells have little or no side effects.

 

Interesting. 

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Alpha 1, I have discussed this topic so much that I don't remember if I have said anything on this forum but I see I never updated this post as I said I would.  Dra. Justina sent us to another doctor in Guadalajara for the stem cells because my husband was extremely ill and needed medical specialists at the same time as we were experimenting with the stem cells.  It took about 3 months for my husband to see results in the blood work.  The lymphopenia became less and less until he was back to normal.  It took longer for the T-cells and B-cells to recover ... and even longer for his immune system to recover.  It is now at the 10 month mark and it appears that he is fully recovered.  It was a very rough go.  There were 2 times during the last 10 months that we thought he wasn't going to make it and had it not been for the stem cells he probably would not have.  His medical specialist witnessed the transformation of his blood cells and they say it is either a miracle or the stem cells so one can choose what one believes. :)  He wound up taking 250,000 stem cells within a period of a couple of months.  My husband's results are very evident in the blood work.  Before the stem cells he had severe lymphopenia for nearly a year and his immune system was non-existent.  Now his blood work is normal.

I also took 100,000 stem cells.  My fibromyalgia and severe stomach problems appear to be behind me for which I am very grateful.  Again, this didn't happen over night.  I took stem cells in May of last year and it took a few months for me to really see the difference.  Then one day it dawned on me that I was not experiencing the daily bone pain and soreness nor was I having constant diarrhea.  

As to Dr. Justina, I would trust her to tell me who to see and what can possibly be done.  Knowing that everyone is different.

As to Dr. Francisco Arroyo, he is absolutely the most excellent doctor.  His team operated on my neck when it was absolutely necessary and did a fantastic job.  When I was having problems again with my neck and one of the doctors here told me that I needed surgery right away or I would be in a wheelchair ... we headed straight for Dr. Arroyo and his team.  They said absolutely NO to the surgery and wrote up instructions and worked with Dra. Justina here lakeside using therapy only to take care of the problem.

I was not aware that Dr. Arroyo was using stem cells, but I am not at all surprised.  Again, another doctor that I would trust with my life. 

 

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