Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis: Dr. Janet Vaughan

Pro/Am Dancer is “Dancing with the Stars” Again After Stem Cell Therapy in Panama

Corpus Christi, TX (PRWEB) February 01, 2012

Stem Cell Recipient Janet Vaughan and Eddie Sutts

Dr. Janet Vaughan and Professional 10-Dance World Champion Eddie Stutts

Pro/Am ballroom dancer and orthodontist, Dr. Janet Vaughan, is once again slated to compete on the professional dance circuit with her current professional partner, Mr. Eddie Stutts (Professional 10-Dance World Champion) following a successful stem cell procedure on her knee in Panama.

From 2007-2009, Dr. Vaughan partnered with World Champion Tony Dovolani and competed extensively in the U.S., winning a National Reserve Pro/Am Rhythm title. Tony Dovolani is best known for his appearances on ABC’s hit reality series, “Dancing with the Stars”, and has teamed up with Chynna Phillips, Wendy Williams, Audrina Partridge, Kate Gosselin, Kathy Ireland, Susan Lucci, Jane Seymour and other celebrities on the show.

Dr. Vaughan and Mr. Stutts are slated to compete in the Heritage Classic Dancesport Championships in Asheville, North Carolina next month. This will be the first time Dr. Vaughan has been able to compete since 2010 when she sustained a dancing related knee injury.

Dr. Vaughan also suffered from chronic neck pain resulting from injuries sustained in a car crash twenty years ago. Her neck injury culminated in a natural fusion of the c5-c6 vertebrae, scoliosis and extreme pain when her neck slipped out of alignment.

In an attempt to repair her knee and get her dancing career back on track, Dr. Vaughan decided to undergo stem cell therapy at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama. “I was basically removed from competitive dance work because I could not rise or squat without extreme pain. I had also resigned myself to enduring chronic neck pain from my past accident and painful hand joints due to generalized arthritis,” said Dr. Vaughan.

Janet-Vaughan-and-Tony-Dovolani

Dr. Janet Vaughan and “Dancing with the Stars” Tony Dovolani

Dr. Vaughan ‘s knee was treated with stem cells that were harvested from her own adipose (fat) tissue.

The fat tissue sample is collected via mini-liposuction, which is performed by a certified plastic surgeon under light, general anesthesia. Mesenchymal stem cells and T regulatory cells reside within this tissue.

Adipose-derived cells are then separated from the fat at Medistem Panama’s state-of-the-art laboratory at the prestigious City of Knowledge. This entire process is subjected to stringent quality control. Before they can be administered back into the patient, these adipose-derived stem cells are tested for quality, bacterial contamination (aerobic and anaerobic) and endotoxin.

All patients treated with adipose stem cells at the Stem Cell Institute wait about one week before the stem cells can be re-implanted to minimize the probability of the cells migrating back to the liposuction injury site. This essential procedural step separates treatment in Panama from “same-day” protocols offered elsewhere.

The adipose-derived stem cells are administered by a highly-qualified physician into the affected joint(s) (intra-articular injection) and intravenously (IV).

“It’s taken about 6 months but I am amazed at the results I’ve gotten with my knee. Even my neck is better. I used to spend almost $1,000 per month on a neuromuscular massage therapist but I haven’t needed any neuromuscular massages for the past 6 months. I wasn’t counting on that. Even my doctors say that the dense scar tissue in my neck has changed in texture from grizzly to smooth, supple tissue,” exclaimed Dr. Vaughan.

She continued, “I just danced 6 hours in Houston preparing for the upcoming competition in Asheville and my knee isn’t even sore.”

Dr. Vaughan is planning to return to Panama for a follow-up treatment this summer

Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis: Dusty Durrill

Prominent Texan, Dusty Durrill, discusses his improvements after undergoing stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis at the Stem Cell Institute in Panama City, Panama.

Progress report….

Everything doing well.
Had clicking in right knee joint that has disappeared.
Had soreness in right knee on any lateral movement- soreness gone.
Hair is continuing to turn grey from original white…noticed by many folks.
Skin is continuing to clear up (bleaching out) & smoothing up.
Folds of skin on lower neck have disappeared.
ED has disappeared – no need for blue pills any more.
My office staff claims I am more alert & involved than before treatment.
Had a bladder problem of involuntary leakage when going to bathroom.
Involuntary leakage problem is now under control.
All in all I feel your procedure has been an outstanding success.

Dusty D.

CALLER TIMES (Corpus Christi, TX) January, 2 2011

News maker of the Decade: Dusty Durrill
Philanthropist works to beautify Corpus Christi
Durrill credits most of his good health and youthful energy to a stem cell transplant he received in Panama City, Panama. Durrill said the procedure, which is not approved in the United States, eradicated his crippling arthritis and reversed the effects of aging, giving him a slight face-lift and transforming his hair from white to gray.

Durrill said he intends to return to Panama soon for a booster. He hopes to stay active for another two decades, if nothing more than to spend time with his girlfriend, 25 years his junior.

“I got a lot of things I need to do here,” he said. “I got to keep my health. I got to keep things happening.”

DEL MAR COLLEGE CAMPUS NEWS (Corpus Christi, TX) – January 15, 2010

Community Leader Sponsoring Talk on Stem Cell Research and Treatment
Dusty Durrill bringing guest speaker Dr. Jorge Paz Rodriguez to Corpus Christi for free presentation scheduled Friday, June 18, at DMC Center for Economic Development

Community leader and advocate William R. “Dusty” Durrill swears by the treatment––the use of his own stem cells to cure his arthritis. According to Durrill, all his pain has been eradicated through such treatment at the Stem Cell Institute located in Panama City, Panama, by Jorge Paz Rodriguez, M.D.

On Friday, June 18, Durrill is sponsoring a free presentation by Dr. Rodriguez to discuss advances in stem cell research and the treatment methods used to tackle diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease, among others. The presentation is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Room 106 of Del Mar College’s Center for Economic Development, located at 3209 S. Staples. For more information about the event, call 884-8857.

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Rodriguez has an international practice at the Wellmed Clinic in Panama City and in San Antonio. He is also the medical director of the Stem Cell Institute of Panama.

A former member of both the American Medical Association and the Texas Medical Association, Dr. Rodriguez completed his residency with the New York Medical College after completing studies at the University of Panama and an internship at the Social Security Hospital in Panama. Prior to 2005, he held licensures in New York and Texas and is currently certified to practice medicine in Panama.

Stem cell therapy for Osteoarthritis: Sheri Nahan

Where do you live and when were you diagnosed with osteoarthritis

I live in Stamford, CT. My osteoarthritis was diagnosed in the last two years but I have had pain in the bursa – periformis and lower back, off and on for many years and tried many treatments.

How did your arthritis progress and what were your symptoms before coming to Panama for stem cell therapy?

I was told in May of 2009 – after x-rays, that I have severe arthritis in the right hip and bad arthritis in the left hip. However, by taking Advil I was able to play golf throughout the summer of 2009, but the pain became too intense in 2010 to play golf and do other tasks. Even putting on socks was a problem. I had to physically pull my leg up with my hands. I had pain in the bursa – periformis – gluteus maximus and other muscular areas which was about an 8 on a scale from 1-10. Some days were better than others and the weather was also a factor. It was especially difficult on stairs and inclines. In addition, there was sometimes lower back pain of differing intensities but not as bad as the pain in my hip region. I tried many therapies, injections, and topical medications, some of which had short term response and others that did nothing.

“I have seen very good improvement since my stem cell treatment and I continue to improve.”

How has your condition improved since undergoing stem cell treatment for osteoarthritis?

I have seen very good improvement since my stem cell treatment and I continue to improve. I can put my shoes and socks on with a minimum of discomfort. I can sit at the computer for long periods of time with no pain. Walking up the steps is much improved. I am beginning to use both feet to step up instead of using just one and dragging the other. My energy level is very good.

Has your doctor confirmed your improvements?

So far, Dr. Zabrecky (my doctor) is pleased with my progress. He has had to adjust my back and neck the last few weeks because I have had aching in my lower back and tightness in my neck and shoulders.I was very pleased with the staff and doctors at the clinic. I was treated very well by the staff with special commendation to Dr. Paz and Dr. Caballero.

What did you think about the clinic? The doctors? The Staff? Panama in general?

I was very pleased with the staff and doctors at the clinic.

It is intimidating to go to another country for a medical treatment. Since you ask these kinds of questions, I am sure you will continue formulating the best procedures to make the patients even more comfortable. I believe it takes a lot of belief in the doctor or friend who recommends using stems, in my case Dr. George Zabrecky, to believe that this treatment will work. I think that the more data and testimonials that you collect, the more confidence a patient will have.

As we have discussed before, there are many patients who do not speak Spanish and there are some instances where it is necessary to have a translator which will greatly ease the stress level of being in a foreign country. This is more than doubly stressful because it involves medical treatments. We enjoyed being in Panama and would gladly visit again.

Would you recommend this to other patients?

I would definitely recommend others for treatment.

Stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis: Juan Gramage

Reactive arthritis

“I could tell you a long story because the experience of having a chronic illness is a tragic and distasteful novel. Almost 4 years ago I began to feel fatigue and pain in my peripheral joints, especially the big ones. The pain was migrating and intensifying every day. I tried many ways to cure myself: synthetic drugs, natural drugs, special diets…

Three or four months ago I received the stem cell treatment and the results have been positive. My pain hasn´t disappeared completely buy I feel that the improvements I felt initially is continuing to strengthen, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and today I can go out. Also I have the confidence that this is the ultimate solution to the pain in my joints.

“I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and today I can go out…”

The first weeks after the injections I felt that the strong pains were decreasing day by day and a month later I felt no more discomfort, the episodes have almost disappeared and I am working with the body feeling new, or at least 75%. I feel better, much better and I believe that if there exists a treatment that is cohesive and successful and still doesn´t harm your health, this is it.

I am deeply touched that new technologies can cure and alleviate the suffering of so many people and at the same time the researches that control the funds of investigation and treatments of these technologies, accountants, administrators and funding-related policy research and treatments, to make this treatment accessible the majority. I have no doubt that health should be a universal right.

If you don´t believe me, talk to be after you suffered through a similar illness. Thanks to all the restless minds that have contributed to these advances.”