Dr. Andrews Using Stem Cells to Speed Recovery??

BigHairedAristocrat

I agree with you - its just that to my knowledge, society isnt squeamish about stem cells - well "educated" society isnt anyways. To the best of my knowledge, the only real debate is over embryonic stem cell research and whether THAT is ethical or not. I highly doubt anyone would have a problem with grabbing stem cells from RGIIIs pelvic bone and injecting it into his knee.

__________________
Dolphins get good press for saving drowning humans.But we only hear about the swimmers theyve pushed ashore.You know who we havent heard from: all the people theyve pushed out to sea.Dolphins dont know what theyre doing-they just like pushing things.

BigHairedAristocrat

That was one of my first thoughts as well. Ireally dont like the leagues stance on HGH. In my opinion, HGH should be allowed to help players recover from injury faster. Its better for the league to have is players healthy. As long as the league would be allowed to approve HGH on a case by case basis (like they do with adderall), i dont see why they should have a problem with it.

__________________
Dolphins get good press for saving drowning humans.But we only hear about the swimmers theyve pushed ashore.You know who we havent heard from: all the people theyve pushed out to sea.Dolphins dont know what theyre doing-they just like pushing things.

CRedskinsRule

Not really, because Lotus' point was that people would get into histrionics at the mere mention of stem cell research (ie AW's post) instead of looking at the facts that make it a viable research alternative. In fact your response was, in my opinion, exactly the response Lotus was saying was frustrating. If I want to talk about effective US stem cell therapies then by definition, and US laws, I am not talking about Embryonic stem cells.

You introduced that topic, and now here we are ranting on it, rather than just talking about how fascinating valid stem cell therapy may become.

Schneed10

Use this thread as a learning opportunity. There seem to be a striking number of people who think the only source of stem cells are a human embryo, completely unaware that we are all walking around with them inside our body.

__________________
Skins' Salary Cap Status | CrazyCanuck's Cap Figures by Player | Salary Cap 101

BigHairedAristocrat

I disagree with you 100%. NO ONE gets in hysterics about stem cell research in general. Its only embryonic stem cell research that causes concern in this country. In this country, if you are referring to stem cell debate, its UNDERSTOOD that youre talking about embryonic stem cells. I think it is important to make the distinction, to avoid confusion. I also dont understand youre reference to "valid" stem cell therapy. "Valid" is a subjective term.

__________________
Dolphins get good press for saving drowning humans.But we only hear about the swimmers theyve pushed ashore.You know who we havent heard from: all the people theyve pushed out to sea.Dolphins dont know what theyre doing-they just like pushing things.

DynamiteRave

Thank you.

That's what my post was about. The more research we can do on adult stem cells, the more light we can shed on how effective they are. We may be able to get them as viable as embryonic cells.

__________________
Establishment, establishment, you always know what's best.

I'm a chick, damnit.

CRedskinsRule

ok we can leave it at agree to disagree.

edit: for sake of my statement, valid stem cell therapy meant any stem cell therapy which can be accomplished legally under current US laws. Sorry if that was not clear.

BigHairedAristocrat

I agree. I did not mean to start any sort of debate - i was really just trying to paint a clear picture of the "stem cell debate" to explain why there are legitimate ethical concerns to certain types of stem cell research.

Most of us are not doctors (but some of us like to pretend to be, especially as it relates to RGIIIs knee). Its important for people to understand the distinction. The article which prompted this thread went out of its to make the distinction clear.

As to speculation that RGIII had stem cells injected in his knee - i think its pretty cool. I wonder if they'd have done the same thing for both knees to speed up recovery.

__________________
Dolphins get good press for saving drowning humans.But we only hear about the swimmers theyve pushed ashore.You know who we havent heard from: all the people theyve pushed out to sea.Dolphins dont know what theyre doing-they just like pushing things.

BigHairedAristocrat

My opinion is that we probably agree on the same points, i just dont think we're understanding the intent behind eachothers posts. I do agree that the speculated surgery is pretty nifty stuff - i do wonder why Andrews would publically say they used stem cells from his pelvic bone in the press release on the surgery. I would imagine he's something of a pioneer with the surgery and I would imagine he'd want credit as such.

__________________
Dolphins get good press for saving drowning humans.But we only hear about the swimmers theyve pushed ashore.You know who we havent heard from: all the people theyve pushed out to sea.Dolphins dont know what theyre doing-they just like pushing things.

DynamiteRave

^^ lol

__________________
Establishment, establishment, you always know what's best.

I'm a chick, damnit.

Schneed10

I suppose it depends on how the stem cells help the knee heal. Are they helping the ligaments adhere to the bone with great strength in a quicker fashion? Seems that way, since the article states that they're injecting them into reconstructed joints to generate strength in the ligaments sooner. But what about grafted tendons? Will stem cells help the grafted tendon from his other knee heal stronger?

Suffice it to say that wherever Andrews thought it would aid the healing process, he is probably doing it. It's smart business and good medicine for him. Doing this enables him to heal patients faster and grow his cache as the miracle worker for sports medicine.

__________________
Skins' Salary Cap Status | CrazyCanuck's Cap Figures by Player | Salary Cap 101

Schneed10

I think the takeaway here is that when Andrews says 6-8 months, there's a possible medical reason to believe in that prognosis. He's in a much better position to make that call than medical experts who've had nothing to do with RG3's surgery chirp about the typical recovery period for an ACL reconstruction.

I don't think Andrews would put his sterling reputation on the line to back an overly optimistic stance by the team. I understand he's collecting a fee from the team, but his own business incentive is to retain his sterling reputation as the sports medicine pioneer that he is, so he can continue raking it in from his fundamental business. What he earns from his sports medicine surgical business far outstrips any money he collects from the Redskins; he knows where his bread gets buttered.

__________________
Skins' Salary Cap Status | CrazyCanuck's Cap Figures by Player | Salary Cap 101

CRedskinsRule

I would guess that it will all come out, but it may be that he wants to do follow up, and is using the results as part of a research paper he wants to publish or he may just be concerned about patient privacy. I hadn't heard of AP using this therapy (granted I didn't follow his recovery much) so maybe Dr Andrews just allows time to pass so that any concerns the athlete may have about their own privacy are alleviated. (Can't see Griffin being a privacy hawk though).