Stem cell therapy is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about forms of regenerative medicine – and for a good reason. Time and time again, research shows that these small but mighty cells can help the body regenerate and heal from within. Stem cells can treat hip pain, protect against age-related diseases, improve brain function, and may even have the ability to grow a human heart!
There has to be a catch, right? Nope. When done correctly and at a trusted clinic, stem cell therapy can be transformative. However, this is not to say there aren’t crazy, false claims out there involving stem cells. Sadly, untrustworthy regenerative medicine clinics scam unsuspecting people by claiming their injections are a “fix-all” solution.
These dishonest clinics can be extremely harmful to stem cell therapy as a whole. At Texas Partners Healthcare Group, we believe in educating our patients and helping them understand their options. This therapy has many benefits when done correctly and for the right reasons. It is the clinics and individuals who operate without this philosophy that compromise the integrity of the entire field of medicine. A recent study found at least 570 dishonest clinics in the United States, making false stem cell claims.
The purpose of this article is to look at some examples of clinics taking advantage of patients and what questions you should ask to make sure you are working with a trusted stem cell therapy practice.
Denver resident Eduardo Dominguez was sadly the victim of a corrupt stem cell therapy scheme. For the debilitating pain to go away, Dominguez would need a total hip replacement. Looking for a solution besides going under the knife, a coworker suggested stem cell therapy. A downtown clinic offering stem cell treatments in Denver told Dominguez the damaged hip cartilage would regenerate after just a couple injections, and “there was going to be no pain, ever.” After canceling the surgery, Dominguez paid $6,000 for a stem cell injection that would supposedly eliminate his pain. Three months later and in more pain than ever, he went back to the clinic, where he was told he needed another injection for a mere $3,000. He had suspicions about the legitimacy of the treatment, even though he ended up negotiating and getting the injection for free.
Dominguez continued to get worse and eventually had the hip replacement surgery, but not after handing over thousands of dollars to this clinic.
Here is just one example of a deceitful clinic preying on the public. You must do your research and only work with a reputable stem cell therapy clinic. With stem cells in the news, conniving individuals and organizations will undoubtedly try and scam willful patients. At Texas Partners Healthcare Group, we believe in transparency and are here to answer any questions you may have. We want to ensure you are comfortable with any treatment we suggest, whether stem cell therapy, ketamine infusions, or another form of regenerative medicine.
Because of distrustful clinics like the one in Denver, stem cell therapy is getting a bad name and leaving patients frustrated, confused, and out thousands of dollars. There are many myths about stem cell therapy that we are here to discuss if you need clarification.
Before moving forward with this therapy, you must ask the right questions. Today we are going to go over some of the most critical questions you should ask your doctor before receiving treatment. By asking the right questions and taking the time to understand the process, you can trust you are working with a reputable clinic that has your best interests in mind.
Ask your doctor the following questions to find out if stem cell therapy is right for you:
The bottom line? Look at the reviews, visit the clinic before committing, ask questions, and trust your gut.
The future of stem cell therapy is bright, but there is still a lot of work to be done. With dishonest clinics like the one mentioned in this story and countless others across the country, stem cell therapy is facing an uphill battle. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced they were implementing new policy steps and enforcement efforts to ensure clinics like this aren’t preying on clueless patients looking for a pain management solution. This is a step in the right direction and one that we will keep an eye on. Furthermore, stem cell laws are critical to how this type of therapy is offered to the general public.
To learn more about stem cell therapy or if you have any questions, give Texas Partners Healthcare Group a call today. We are here to answer your questions and dispel any misnomers you have about stem cell therapy. Don’t hesitate to give our pain management clinic in Frisco a call or stop by any of our clinics today.