Stem cells are usually found in the bone marrow. Regular stem cells will make you feel good/better but will only last a while. HSCT extracts you stem cells (which have no memory at all) then your are given chemo to kill off your immune system. After your immune system is killed off, you are given back you stem cells. The purpose of the stem cells is to help your body recreate an immune system, hence making recovery a lot quicker. Actual time it can last is unknown. I know people who had it done over 7 years ago & they have made the MS dormant. The body is its best healer. Depending on the actual damage of the MS will determine ones healing time. If damages are permanent, than they will not repair. HSCT will go up for FDA in the states again in 2022. It's has been approved in other places as a 1st line choice for MS.

There's a couple different "stem cell" treatments out there. HSCT is the big one. Currently in clinical trial in Chicago, Seattle and Denver. Very strict admission requirements, not usually covered under insurance so very expensive $150K+. It can also be done out of the US for much less (most popular is probably Mexico at $55K), but also Russia, Singapore, Phillipines and others. All of these extract your own stem cells then use chemo to ablate your immune system, then reinfuse the cells, essentially rebooting your immune system to stop recognizing myelin as bad and stop attacking it. Initial success rate is anywhere from 80%-90%, but long term efficacy seems to drop dramatically after 5 years. MSC (mesenchymal stem cells) is currently in trial at Tisch MS center in New York (possibly another?). This is using your mesenchymal cells to actually re-myelinate damaged areas. As far as I know, doesn't stop progression, but promising on repair. Other stem cell treatments are marketed by various clinics. These are usually done using a liposuction type procedure to extract cells and then injecting them into the spinal cord. Some say they see an initial improvement, but chances are it won't last and is a complete waste of $10-$15K. Most folks call these a scam. @A MyMSTeam Member just got back from HSCT in Mexico, so hopefully he can chime in!

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A MyMSTea...

Thank you RichieR for reply. I agree; body is its best healer. Not sure if this is right approach for me... A lot of thinking too do.

My MS doctor in Atlanta is still unsure about it, but for legal reasons, he cannot officially endorse it. I trust his judgement and once it gets full approval across the boards, then, yes I'm all over that. I'll ask him at my next appointment, end of June, and see if there's been any updates.

From what I heard its $18,000 treatment and ins. Doesn't cover !