Gail Fatato was one of millions of people plagued by osteoarthritis, a debilitating disease that causes joint inflammation and paint. Gail was diagnosed in her 20s after she experienced pain while working as an aesthetician.

X-rays of her knees showed that she had worn away nearly all of the protective cartilage in her knee joints.  It was a shock to Gail, who had spent her childhood and teen years being very active — hiking, riding and skiing. Suddenly she was in a great deal of pain and felt like she was in her 60s, despite being 24 years of age.

She found it impossible to through the day without pain medication. Gail tried a variety of treatments to address her osteoarthritis including cortisone shots and hyaluronic acid injections (to cushion the knee), but nothing helped.

Gail did some research and discovered the breakthroughs being made using stem cells. She discovered that pro athletes were already using stem cells for knee pain and the treatment of joint injuries. 

She discussed the possibility of a stem cell treatment with orthopaedic surgeon Dr Steven Struhl from NYU School of Medicine. Dr Struhl suggested that Gail was a good candidate for a treatment that used a patient’s own bone marrow stem cells for knee pain.

The stem cells can produce new cartilage, which cushions the joint and reduces pain. Gail went through the procedure in April as an outpatient, a process she described as ‘uncomfortable’ but not painful. 30 minutes after receiving the injection in her knee she was able to drive home.

Ten days later, her pain had dramatically decreased. Within a few short weeks Gail noticed that she was walking more fluidly and could feel the muscles in her legs working more effectively.

Six weeks after her stem cell treatment, Gail also received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to help the healing process along. After that she began to exercise again, riding a bike and going on long walks.  For Gail the treatment was an incredible success.

The stem cell therapy undertaken by Gail is currently considered experimental, but it has a very strong success rate. As the technology improves, the success rates will only increase.

Source: Yonkers woman treated with stem cells for knee pain

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