Stem Cell Therapy for Fibromyalgia
Clinical trials using stem cells for the treatment of musculoskeletal pain have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cell therapy for pain treatment is an effective approach to treating fibromyalgia. Researchers indicate that transplanting millions of these stem cells can repair nerve damage and reduce muscle pain and weakness. That is why stem cells are a viable regenerative medicine treatment for fibromyalgia.
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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain in the muscles and bones, fatigue, and sleep and cognitive difficulties.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain in the body, decreased pain tolerance, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and emotional and mental disturbances. The exact cause of the condition is not known. There is currently no cure, but treatments exist to manage the symptoms.
Approximately 2% of the adult US population—about 4 million Americans—suffer from fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and fibrositis. The CDC reports that women are twice as likely than men to have fibromyalgia and data shows that ≤60-80% of diagnosed cases are women. This may be due to cultural bias and underreporting in men.
Fibromyalgia has been linked to autoimmune diseases because they have some overlapping symptoms and patients with Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis are statistically more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
The inflammation-homing nature of mesenchymal stem cells and clinical results indicate that transplanting millions of these stem cells can repair nerve damage and reduce muscle pain and weakness. Performance of studies also suggest that stem cell therapy for musculoskeletal pain could offer longer-lasting results and lower healthcare costs compared to traditional treatments. That is why stem cells are a viable treatment for fibromyalgia.
What causes Fibromyalgia?
A main characteristic of fibromyalgia is the widespread pain caused by dysfunctional nerve receptors. The exact cause of fibromyalgia is still not yet fully understood but the latest research suggests that fibromyalgia may be caused by a combination of:
- Damage or dysfunction of the nervous system (involving the brain stem to nerve endings) .
- Excessive stress or psychological trauma such as car accidents and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Repetitive injuries or exposure to harmful chemicals.
- Frequent numbing or blocking of pain receptors via medication.
- Illness-related damage such as that caused by viral infections like malaria or COVID-19.
- Inherited genetic factors.
- Pre-existing chronic conditions.
- Gender may play a role since women are 2x more likely to have fibromyalgia.
Although the exact cause of fibromyalgia is not yet known, a recent skin biopsy study found patients with fibromyalgia had exposed (unmyelinated) nerve fibers, abnormal nerve fiber density, and impaired regenerative ability of nerve fibers. This resembles the damage caused by some autoimmune diseases that mistakenly attack the nerve tissue of the body.
When antibodies from patients with fibromyalgia were injected into test subjects during a 2021 clinical study, the subjects displayed heightened sensitivity to physical and thermal stimuli, weaker grip strength, reduced mobility, and alterations to the pain receptor nerves under the skin.
Some theories suggest that a chemical imbalance or an abnormality in the cluster of neurons in the spine causes the brain and nerves to overreact or misinterpret normal pain signals thus causing unnecessary or exaggerated pain.
So while the root cause of fibromyalgia is still unclear, there is increasing evidence that a major factor could involve a damaged or dysfunctional nervous system in the brain stem, spinal cord peripheral nerves, epidermal, or at the synapses level. And more research is needed to determine the role antibodies play in fibromyalgia and how to differentiate its symptoms from official autoimmune diseases that may share the same symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Fibromyalgia?
Widespread Pain
Pain in the muscles, joints, face, jaw, abdomen, pelvis, lower and upper back, neck, painful menstrual cycles, IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), headache, migraine. Pain levels range from intermittent, chronic, sharp, or severe and can occur at random.
Nerve Impairment
Loss of strength, joint stiffness, muscle tenderness, persistent soreness, muscle spasms, tingling sensation in extremities, numbness in digits, hypersensitivity to touch and temperature changes, inflammation
Cognitive & Psychological
Fatigue, tiredness, drowsiness, depression, mood swings, anxiety, nervousness, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating and remembering things (Fibro-fog), irritability, insomnia
Request an in-person or virtual consultation with a medical specialist to review medical history, lab results, MRIs, and determine eligibility for stem cell therapy for fibromyalgia.
Can stem cells be used to treat Fibromyalgia?
Studies show mesenchymal stem cells can repair nerve damage and reduce musculoskeletal pain
Mesenchymal stem cells are unique in that they can turn into virtually any type of cell needed in the body, including nerve cells, brain cells, muscle cells, cartilage, and more.
When millions of these cells are transplanted via intrathecal injection, and/or intravenously, MCSs innately home-in on and travel to the areas of inflammation to begin repairing nerve damage and restoring proper nervous system function in patients with fibromyalgia. It has been shown that these stem cells not only repair the damage themselves, but also recruit local cells to participate in the repair too thanks to a cytokine-mediated paracrine effect.
The immuno-regulating properties of MCSs also restore equilibrium of tissues in the body such as the myelin and connective tissue that insulates nerve fibers in the peripheral nerves. And even better, since these are undifferentiated pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells, they are not rejected by the patient’s own immune system when transplanted.
Mesenchymal stem cell transplants are becoming more popular in the international community as a viable regenerative medicine treatment option to repair nerve damage and reduce muscle pain and weakness caused by fibromyalgia and other co-occurring rheumatic and autoimmune conditions.
Ethics & safety
Are marrow-derived stem cells ethical and safe for Fibromyalgia?
Using stromal mesenchymal stem cells derived from healthy bone marrow of screened patients (either oneself or an eligible donor) does not raise ethical concerns since the cells are not from discarded in vitro embryos or other questionable sources. For years, our doctors have used stem cells safely in regenerative medicine to regenerate damaged nerve endings caused by an autoimmune disorder, spinal cord injury, or stroke. Since MSCs are undifferentiated and pluripotent, they are considered immune-privileged. Immune-privileged means that these MSCs are not rejected by the recipient’s immune system and will not force patients to take immunosuppressants for the rest of their lives.
Federal regulations
Is it legal to get stem cells for fibromyalgia?
Yes, our clinic is federally licensed, so all of our treatments are legal and are performed by qualified medical professionals. Other clinics get stem cells delivered from a third-party lab which causes degradation of stem cells through hours of transit. Because we would never jeopardize patients’ wellbeing or our long-standing reputation, we have our own private laboratory to harvest and administer stem cells immediately upon preparation to ensure maximum bioavailability for our patients.
Our private laboratory abides by the and application centers abide by the highest international standards such as COFEPRIS and ISO class 5 and 6. Our clinic is accountable to the COFEPRIS and strictly adheres to proven clinical standards.
Long-lasting results
Do stem cells work for fibromyalgia?
Research on treating musculoskeletal pain with stem cells states that treating musculoskeletal pain with mesenchymal stem cell therapies “could reduce or eliminate the need for repetitive drug administration and have longer-lasting effects, thus improving patient quality of life and reducing healthcare costs
“.
Stem cells don’t do miracles, but they may far exceed traditional treatments for fibromyalgia in terms of results and costs. Patients from all over the globe have successfully received stem cell therapy to regenerate brain cells, nerve cells, and improve nervous system function. Now this therapy is available to you too.
Private Healthcare
Does insurance cover stem cells?
Insurance companies usually do not cover stem cell therapy unless they are for treating certain blood disorders such as a transplant of bone-marrow stem cells to treat leukemia.
It’s important to note that many European and Asian countries have advanced treatments not currently approved for use in the USA. As news spreads about athletes, celebrities, and prestigious professionals undergoing stem cell therapy, treatments options are likely to become less accessible and increasingly privileged.
Unburdened by profit-driven insurance companies, our doctors are able to stay committed to their oath-bound responsibility and never perform unnecessary treatments under the pretense of securing funding. We perform extensive lab work to determine eligibility and identify the exact type, quantity, and application of stem cells that will benefit each patient individually.
Thanks to advances in medicine and scientific research, private sector stem cell therapy such as this is today more accessible in terms of travel, price, and quality.
Fibromyalgia: Traditional Treatment Compared to Stem Cell Therapy
- Multiple specialties: rheumatologist, psychologist, physical therapist, chiropractic, general medicine.
- Pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and narcotic pain relievers.
- Nerve-blocking drugs—such as Pregabalin (Lyrica) an antiseizure drug—to block nerve cells from sending out pain signals.
- Antidepressant medication to balance mood.
- Muscle relaxant drugs (not very commonly prescribed anymore) and sleep medication.
- Occupational and physical therapy to improve muscle strength and relieve pain.
- Stress-management techniques.
- Talk therapy and support groups.
- Total annual costs among patients with fibromyalgia have been estimated at $17,165 USD including direct treatment costs and indirect loss of income/productivity due to inability to work.
Because there is no cure at the moment for fibromyalgia and the exact cause is not known, treatment typically consists of managing symptoms with pain-relief medication, antidepressants, talk therapy, and self-care techniques. Due to the fact that it is very difficult for an adult patient to generate new healthy nerve tissue in large quantities fast enough to counteract effects of the condition, the objective of this medical approach is to give patients relief from incapacitating pain and other symptoms.
- Requires specialist care. May be performed in parallel with current medication.
- Up to 800 million mesenchymal stem cells (from 3 million MSC cells per kilo of weight).
- Objective is to restore optimal nervous system function beyond managing symptoms.
- Regrow functional new nerve cells and repair nerve tissue damage continually for 6-18 months.
- Optional intravenous treatments to nourish and activate the stem cells.
- Optional therapies such as exosomes to help regulate cellular differentiation.
- Cost ranges from $4000 to $25,000 per treatment. A single transplant can provide longer-lasting results than traditional symptom-management treatments.
Stem cell treatment for fibromyalgia may include intravenous and spinal cord injection of up to 800 million vibrant pluripotent stromal mesenchymal stem cells (ideally 3 million MCSs / kg of body weight) as well as alternative and regenerative treatments. These cells have the innate ability to travel to regions needing repair and turn into any cell needed—such as brain cells and nerve cells in the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord or “control room”) and the peripheral nervous system (the “network” of nerves that transmit signals between the body and the central nervous system).
While stem cells do not cure fibromyalgia, the objective of this medical approach is to generate new healthy nerve tissue in large quantities fast enough to provide longer-lasting relief from musculoskeletal pain and other symptoms. Thus reducing or eliminating repetitive drug administration, improving patients’ quality of life, and reducing healthcare costs.
Meet Our Doctors & Nurses
Their combined decades of experience in regenerative medicine, sports medicine, alternative treatments, and surgical specialties make our doctors uniquely qualified to develop precision-based medical protocols using mesenchymal stem cells.
Dr. Decio Bars
Chief Medical Director
Dr. Yael Ochoa
Medical Doctor
Carolina Becerra
Registered Nurse
Aaron Torres
Registered Nurse
Request an in-person or virtual consultation with a medical specialist to review medical history, lab results, MRIs, and determine eligibility for stem cell therapy for fibromyalgia.
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The healing of the future is within your reach! We’re very excited for you and will be at your side every step of the way.
