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Lasting 3 hours Murray made world news defeating a top 20 player to reach China Open 3rd round after hip resurfacing surgery only in January.In a display of remarkable physical prowess and mental strength, Andy Murray beat fellow Brit Cam Norrie 7-6, 6-7, 6-1 in the 2nd round of the China Open. The 32-year-old served for the first set at 5-3, but Norrie forced a tiebreak and saved three set points before eventually serving a double fault to hand Murray the opener. Murray was clearly physically exhausted when 5-2 down in the second set, breathing hard and looking constantly to his support on the bench, but Norrie then lost the tiebreak to Murray. Norrie then served another double fault to be broken early in the decider and Murray, went on to show his skill and class to win the match.Admitting that he was both mentally and physically exhausted after the epic battle, Murray said;“Me and Cam practised three or four times back home before we came to Asia and he was getting the better of me. The first set we were both quite nervous. It’s always tricky playing someone you know quite well. I have tomorrow off so I get a day’s rest.”The 3 time Grand Slam Winner had earlier seriously contemplated retiring completely from Tennis due to severe hip pain.“When I spoke to my team then, I was like, ‘I need to stop because I can’t keep doing this’. Matches or practice sets like the one against Djokovic was where I also realised I was right. I couldn’t serve properly, I couldn’t run properly. I knew I couldn’t play any more so we discussed stopping.”Murray admitted that he had been in constant pain every day and that he was struggling to put his socks on, walk the dog, and play with his two children. After having pain in his hip for ‘a number of years’ – and after losing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 2017, he took the rest of the season off. Last January in 2018 he had surgery, after which he said: “I’m not finished playing tennis yet. I’m going to be competing at the highest level again. However, Twelve months – and only seven tournaments – later, he gave an emotional news conference before the Australian Open, expressing that this could be his final tournament.It was believed that Murray may have had hip impingement – essentially a problem with the ball-and-socket joint. Repetitive and heavy hip flexion had most likely damaged the cartilage of the socket which can lead to deformity of the ball. This is a common injury in high-impact sports such as martial arts, rugby and gymnastics but less so in tennis. Murray however because he is such a high impact player, sliding around the court and running for up to 4 hours at a time on court, would have put his joints under tremendous stress and consistent impact. Any further surgery that Murray was to consider from here would be just to improve quality of life and to “sleep, walk, be with his kids, play.”What is hip resurfacing?On January 28, 2019 Murray decided to have a hip resurfacing operation at a London hospital performed by orthopaedic surgeon Sarah Muirhead-Allwood. Murray was confident with his choice of surgeon as she had operated on Prince Phillip’s hip the year before and even before that on the Queen Mother. The only concern he had was that he didn’t know how the operation would translate to working on an athlete.“I asked her ‘how do I know you’re good?’” he wrote in his BBC Sport column. “I wasn’t doing it to be rude but, in sport, you can tell how good someone is by their ranking. But how I do know a surgeon is good? She just said to me ‘well, you don’t’.“She was very honest and I admired that. She didn’t promise I would get back to playing.“I didn’t want to have someone telling me ‘you’ll definitely be back and winning Wimbledon in five months’ because it wouldn’t have been true.”Murray admitted the pain had got so bad that it affected his mental health. It got to the point where even taking his children to a soft-play centre was agonising. The surgeon explained that the operation was a method of keeping more of the damaged bone than a full hip replacement, smoothing the ball down and covering it with a metal cap.Resurfacing is a lighter touch approach than a whole hip replacement, where both the top of the thighbone and the socket into which it sits are replaced with artificial versions. Instead in an attempt to lessen the wear on the bone at the top of the thigh, the femur is smoothed down and covered with a metal cap, while a layer of metal is placed within the pelvic socket in which it sits.Rather than bone rubbing against bone, causing severe pain, metal rubs against metal whilst a significant amount of the patient’s original bone around the hip area remain intact. The idea is around bone conserving.Why resurfacing and not a total hip replacement?Every year around 100,000 people undergo primary hip replacements in the UK, at an estimated cost of £600 million per year. Most patients have a total hip replacement (THR) where a damaged hip joint is completely replaced with an artificial one. This is typically carried out on people between the ages of 60 and 80. However, this procedure has been reported to fail in younger patients with more active lifestyles –the stiff metal stem in the thigh bone can cause trouble.The alternative type of surgery is hip resurfacing, which is carried out on younger patients. Unlike THR, the surgeon only removes the diseased cartilage of the hip joint and resurfaces the joint – until now with a metal-on-metal implant. This approach is less invasive and leaves the patient with greater mobility after surgery.More of the bone is left in the hip joint, so the patient feels more normal, and can be more active. For young active patients such as sportsmen such as Murray, metal hip resurfacing already lasts longer than total hip replacement. However, in some patients, metal particles are released by the implant, causing tissue reactions around this such as swelling and soreness. This can lead to resurfacing implants failing and patients requiring further surgery.Women, however, are unable to have hip resurfacing surgery, as the metal implant doesn’t fit their hips bones properly leading to higher failure rates. As a result, women can’t have this surgery and their only option is a total hip replacement, whatever their age.There are however risks in this surgery as all operations, however, even if the surgery has corrected the issue, the metal components can wear out after 10 to 15 years – earlier if the patient is very active – and revision surgery, which can be more challenging and produce poor outcomes, is often required.What are the other alternatives for hip pain?Hip pain is difficult to live with on a daily basis but it can be treated with stem cell therapy, AMPP® Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (using Lipogems® technology) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment.Someone who has such significant damage as Andy Murray and who is in such pain there are few other options but there are alternatives, although non will be perfect.Hip conditions which can be treated with AMPP® and PRP therapy include:· Hip Arthritis· Hip injuries· Osteonecrosis· Hip bursitis· Tendinitis· Other degenerative conditions relating to the hip jointHip pain is difficult to live with on a daily basis but it can be treated with stem cell therapy, AMPP® Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (using Lipogems® technology) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment.The hip joint is a ball and socket structure and is made up of bone, cartilage and a thickened piece of fibro cartilage called the labrum. There is a joint capsule which is reinforced by ligaments. The joint is surrounded by muscles which make the hip generally a stable joint.The most common problem with the hip is osteoarthritis, which is degenerative and due to wear and tear. Osteoarthritis happens when inflammation and injury to a joint cause the cartilage tissue to break down. This causes swelling, pain and deformity.There are many other structures around the hip which can cause pain. Bursitis can be very painful and occurs when the lubricating sacs near tendons become inflamed and fill with fluid.Tendons (which attach muscle to bone) often become painful near the hip. The tendon can degenerate and lose its normal strong structured fibres and become thick and partially torn. This is called tendinitis.If a hip problem is not corrected, long term pain management is required. Hip surgery, hip replacement surgery and hip resurfacing are often recommended to patients to help stop the pain. Hip surgery can be traumatic and is followed by months or recovery.Hip Stem cell therapy, AMPP® and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment provide a non-surgical option for people with hip pain. The treatments are minimally invasive, can decrease inflammation, stop the progression of arthritic damage and repair joint cartilage. The recovery time is also much shorter than with surgery.After the operation, Murray faced months of rehabilitation and uncertainty and there was no guarantee that he would ever play competitively again. However Murray says he is now pain free after having the hip resurfacing operation.He appears to have completely defied the professionals who offered that “90 to 95% of patients who have this surgery are delighted and live a pain-free life – they can ski, swim, cycle and play golf at the weekend.“But none of them try to play professional tennis.”He is playing and competing and most surprisingly winning.“There have been a number of times over the past 18 months where I did want to stop. I was getting no enjoyment out of tennis at all, whether that be training, practices or matches. I wasn’t bothered about winning matches either because it wasn’t fun. Now I like playing tennis, getting out onto the court and hitting balls. I want to keep playing if I can because now I enjoy it.”

Documenting the effects of rejuvenating medicine is crucial in the development of these treatments. Operating a system and patient pathway where pain reduction, mobility and individual symptom improvements are categorically recorded is very important.One of the most compelling pieces of research to date comes from Sacre Cuore hospital in Calabria in 2017 where two separate studies took place with clear and striking evidence. In this study doctor’s were about to confirm cartilage regrowth through an intra-articular injection of fat.The Regenerative Clinic welcomes peer reviewed publication of new data revealing striking evidence of human tissue regrowth through the new non-surgical method of intra-articular fat injection (Lipogems®). In two studies the efficacy of both cartilage regrowth and pain reduction has been documented.The first study* was carried out on 17 patients (and 32 knees) with an average age of 69 with osteoarthritis classified as grade 3-4 (arthritis is graded 1 – 4 with 4 representing the most advanced cases with little remaining cartilage and often bone-on-bone symptoms). Following the treatment patients were tested at 3, 6 and 12 months using a number of indicators including MRI scans and measurement of synovial fluid. In almost all cases there was an improvement seen, with more than half, 53.57% of joints recorded seeing an increase in cartilage regrowth of +15% or more.The images of the following patient recorded an increase of 83% in cartilage after 12 months.Professor Adrian Wilson of The Regenerative Clinic is a leading global expert in orthopaedic surgery, and the foremost pioneer of Lipogems® in the UK. He says; “This is a significant moment in charting the results of this treatment. I have seen the remarkable potential of this therapy first hand but it is crucial that we are able to quantify its success. These results are extremely encouraging and offer people experiencing pain and trauma in their joints a safe and effective alternative to traditional surgery. There is an explosion of clinical studies in this field and it is very exciting to be at the forefront of this new technology in the UK.”The treatment induces host chondrocytes to make rejuvenating structural and biochemical changes in the cartilage. It was also noted that it was not just the thickness but rather the quality of the regrown cartilage which was remarkable. Significant pain reduction was also noted across all patients after 3, 6 and 12 months.A separate study** conducted by Arcangelo Russo at the Sacre Cuore hospital in Calabria, Italy proves the effectiveness of reducing pain. The study is peer reviewed and has just been published in the Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics.87% of patients recorded a significant reduction in pain after 12 months (based on the VAS pain scale and Tegner Lysholm Knee). In a sample of 30 patients with a median age of 43 there were no major complications recorded. Russo found the treatment to be; “a sustainable, quick, one-step, minimally invasive, and with very low percentage of complications.”Sources:*The Effect of Intra-articular injection of Autologous Micro-fragmented Fat Tissue on Proteoglycan Synthesis in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis by Damian HudetzPublished October 2017 http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/8/10/270**Autologous and micro-fragmented adipose tissue for the treatment of diffuse degenerative knee osteoarthritis by A. Russo, V. Condello, V. Madonna, M. Guerriero and C. Zorzi 
Published: October 2017 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28975547

A comparative guide to recovery times for some of the most popular knee operations and treatments:Knee pain is a common complaint that can affect people of all ages and differing lifestyles. There are several reasons that someone may look to have treatment for a knee ailment – injury such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage, tendonitis or a dislocated kneecap, or medical conditions including arthritis, gout or severe infections.Many types of minor knee pain can respond to self-care methods such as physical therapy or bracing, whereas others may need further medical intervention or even surgery.A knee injury can affect any of the ligaments, tendons or fluid filled sacs that surround the knee joint as well as the bones, cartilage, and ligaments that form the joint itself.We’ve rounded up some of the most common injuries and ailments and compared average recovery times for those procedures. There are so many factors, including age, height, weight, lifestyle, severity of injury, and each person is different so everyone will take time to heal in a different way.ACLAn ACL injury is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament – one of the few ligaments that connect your shinbone to your thighbone. An ACL injury is particularly common with people who play football or basketball or any sport that requires a sudden change in direction. They are the most common types of knee injuries and comprise of 40% of all sporting injuries. You can tear your ACL if your lower leg extends forwards too much and can tear if your knee and lower leg are twisted. If it is torn, your knee can become extremely unstable and lose its full range of motion.Treatment and SurgeryThe decision to have knee surgery will depend on the exact damage to the ACL and whether it is affecting your quality of life. Delaying treatment can cause further damage to the knee.Before surgery the patient will have to wait for the immediate swelling to go down and for movement to return to the knee. They may also have to wait until the muscles at the front and back of the thigh are as strong as possible. Without this full range of motion in the knee before surgery, recovery will be much more difficult. It is likely to take three weeks after injury for the full range of motion to return at all and patients often need the services of a physiotherapist to regain this motion.A torn ACL cannot be simply repaired by stitching it back together but can be reconstructed by attaching or grafting new tissue onto it. The ACL can be reconstructed by removing what remains of the torn ligament and replacing it with a tendon from another area of the leg, such as the hamstring or patellar tendon. The patellar tendon attaches the bottom of the kneecap (patella) to the top of the shinbone (tibia).RisksACL surgery fully restores the functioning of the knee in more than 80% of cases. Your knee, however, will never be exactly the same again, and you may still suffer pain and swelling. This could be due to other injuries, such as tears to the cartilage, which happened at the same time or even after.As with all types of surgery, there are risks associated with knee surgery including infections, blood clots, knee pain, weakness, and stiffness. There is also a small chance (one in ten) that the newly grafted ligament will fail, and the knee will still be unstable. Even if the first operation is successful, further surgery may still be recommended.RecoveryAfter ACL surgery, a few people may still experience knee pain and instability. Recovery can take around six months, but it could take up to a year before a patient can return to any training or sporting activity. After the surgery the wound is closed with stitches or surgical clips. It will also need washing and banding and even the use of a cryo cuff which is a waterproof bandage that contains ice to reduce the swelling. There may also be painful bruising, swelling, and redness down the front of the shin and ankle, caused by fluid inside the knee joint leaking down the shin.A normal level of activity can be resumed between six weeks and six months after surgery and a return to work could happen after two to three weeks or up to three months for any physical or manual labour.Knee Replacements (total and partial)There are two main types of surgery – Total knee replacement where both sides of the knee joint are replaced or a Partial knee replacement where only one side of the joint is replaced. Partial is the smaller operation of the two and with a shorter hospital stay and recovery period.Total KneeA total knee replacement is a surgical procedure whereby the diseased knee joint is replaced with artificial material. The knee is a hinge joint that provides motion at the point where the thigh meets the lower leg. The thighbone (or femur) abuts the large bone of the lower leg (tibia) at the knee joint. During a total knee replacement, the end of the femur bone is removed and replaced with a metal shell. The end of the lower leg bone (tibia) is also removed and replaced with a channeled plastic piece with a metal stem.RisksRisks of total knee replacement include blood clots in the legs that can travel to the lungs (pulmonaryembolism). This can cause shortness of breath, chest pain and even shock. Other risks include urinary tract infections, nausea and vomiting, chronic knee pain and stiffness, bleeding in the knee joint, nerve damage, blood vessel injury and infections of the knee which can require further surgery. The risks of anesthesia include potential heart, lung, kidney, and liver damage.RecoveryFor an optimal outcome after total knee replacement surgery, it is important for patients to continue in an outpatient physical-therapy program along with home exercises during the healing process. Patients will be asked to continue exercising the muscles around the replaced joint to prevent scarring (and contracture) and maintain muscle strength for the purposes of joint stability. The wound will be monitored by the surgeon for healing. Patients also should watch for warning signs of infection, including abnormal redness, increasing warmth, swelling, or unusual pain. The treating physician will typically prescribe antibiotics before, during, and immediately after any elective procedures in order to prevent infection of the replaced joint.Though infrequent, patients with total knee replacements may require a second operation years later.Partial KneePartial knee replacement (also called unicompartmental knee arthroplasty) is surgery that may be used to treat severe knee arthritis that affects only one part of the knee. Partial knee replacement surgery although runs the risks of any surgical procedure, involves a smaller incision (surgery cut) than traditional total knee replacement surgery.RecoveryThe advantages of this type of surgery over total knee replacement include a quicker recovery, (although this would still be months) and less pain after surgery and less blood loss.Because the bone, cartilage, and ligaments in the healthy parts of the knee are kept, most people say that a partial knee replacement feels more ‘natural’ than a total knee replacement, and it usually bends much better.Non-surgical procedures should always be considered first to prolong the need for surgery. If you have knee pain, knee replacement surgery should be the final option. Although knee surgery is common and safe, it is still major surgery and has associated risks and a long term recovery period.Knee arthritis or sports injuryFor a broad spectrum of knee problems many people are now turning to regenerative alternatives to surgery because of their short, or instantaneous recovery time. Although injected cells may take time to settle and improve over time, there is no requirement to rest up or have time off in the short term.Lipogems® specialise in treating orthopaedic injuries, sports injuries, arthritis and other degenerative conditions but using advanced non-surgical techniques including stem cell therapy. It is always advisable to discuss non-surgical treatments first and your age should also be considered. Older patients tend to have more success with knee replacements as they are less active and therefore take longer to wear out the product. Young patients obviously want to return to a more active lifestyle quicker and run the risk of decreasing the life expectancy of the joint.There are a number of non – operative alternatives available for the knee. These can all alleviate symptoms of joint cartilage damage whilst focus on repairing and healing in a quicker time-frame and minimal hospital admittance.Treatment and SurgeryKnee stem cell therapy, AMPP® Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma (using Lipogems® technology) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy can delay or avoid the need for knee surgery. The treatments are minimally invasive, can decrease inflammation, stop the progression of arthritic damage and repair joint cartilage. The recovery time is also much shorter than with surgery.AMPP® injections are a pioneering new treatment using the body’s own stem cells from a combination of Lipogems® and PRP therapy to treat pain and inflammation. The minimally invasive procedure is a possible alternative to having an operation or can be used after surgery to help healing. It harnesses natural repair cells removed from your body fat to target problems affecting joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles. The procedure takes around an hour and early results suggest an improvement for around 75% of suitable patients.This treatment contains concentrated blood plasma as well as adipose-based pericytes harvested with Lipogems®. This type of treatment is superior both in regeneration and in healing and can have this at the same time as the treatment of other joints, the results of which have been very positive.PRP Therapy supports the body’s self-healing processes by using its own cells. Blood is mostly liquid (called plasma) but also contains solid component including red cells, white cells and platelets. The platelets are important for clotting blood but they also contain proteins called growth factors which are important in the healing of injuries.With a higher concentration of growth factors than typically found in blood, PRP injections support the restoration of injured tissue and inhibit painful inflammatory processes. This treatment is widely researched and supported in clinical papers.RecoveryAMPP®, PRP or Lipogems® adipose therapy doesn’t involve an overnight hospital stay or long recovery time for the patient. It’s a day case procedure, after which the patient can return home.Immediately after the treatment, the patient is carefully monitored for several hours by a team of specialist nurses, to make sure that they are feeling well and the small incision sites are healing correctly. A physiotherapist will be required to deliver a programme of exercises, which will begin around forty-eight hours after treatment and designed for speedy patient recoveryMost patients will not need to have any stitches at all, to close the tiny incisions which will heal naturally and will be covered with an absorbent dressing pad and compression wrap for twenty four to forty eight hours after the procedure.Thereafter, people usually walk out of the clinic a few hours after having treatment and after taking it easy for a day or so are able to return to normal work and full activity. The recovery time is a major positive factor for many people when choosing the treatment that they are going to have on their knee.

As England gets ready to take on Argentina and then France in the final two matches in their Group C encounters at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, spare a thought for the knees and shoulders of the respective front rows as they size each other up at scrum time.This weekend, England’s combined forwards will be weighing in at some 922kg against a similarly weighted Argentinian pack. Data shows that today individual rugby union players are 33% heavier than the general public, compared with 29% in 1955 (source: BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine journal – November 2018). The same research also found that forwards had become steadily heavier between 1955 and 2015, with the weight of the pack, comprising eight players, increasing from 112 stone (711kg) to a massive 144 stone (914kg).Just imagine the brute force of the impact this creates as the two groups of eight enormous rugby forwards come together, each using their strength and conditioning boosted even further prior to the world cup by an intensive training regime, to fight with all their might to push the other side off the ball at any and every opportunity. These individual players are not just supporting their own body weight but also that of their team-mates alongside them and – for the front rows at least – the weight of the opposing forward pack as well.England Argentina RugbyIt is not a coincidence that before taking to the pitch many of these same players will have considerable quantities of shoulder strapping and/or knee braces or supports adorning their bodies, primarily around the joints which need to be able to take the strain for the full 80 minutes. Wear and tear for these athletes is second to none and injury replacements are common place throughout the tournament as players succumb to aggravating previous injuries or suffering new ones, often as a result of the impact experienced by the very joints these devices have been designed to protect.The playing career for any rugby player can be short, and for forwards even shorter, since even super-fit bodies start to fail as a result of the intense impact experienced daily. Rugby is a fantastic game but as any ex-professional rugby player will tell you, it is their bodies that stop working before the mind accepts retirement as the only option. Over recent years professional rugby players and clubs are devoting more time and attention to managing bodies better, by employing different training regimes, supplements and medical and holistic therapies. In this way players can take care of their joints and extend their playing careers for as long as possible.When the time comes to hang up the boots, many find that intervention is required to help restore their limbs and supporting joints to previous working order and it is here that Hydrodilatation – a ground-breaking treatment recommended for joints that are painful and stiff due to the formation of scar tissue may be beneficial.In other cases, Lipogems® has been found to restore patients’ own cartilage and is a cheaper and less risky alternative to knee replacement. Alternatively, Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) takes advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles and bones. At the Regenerative Clinic this procedure – which involves drawing blood from a patient’s vein, processing in a centrifuge machine and reinjecting into the joint – takes under an hour under the supervision of one of the Clinic’s expert medical consultants. The main aim of this treatment is to reduce pain, improve joint function and potentially slow, halt or repair damage to cartilage.So as we all show our support for England over the next few weeks, encouraging the rugby squad to push their bodies to the limits of possibilities, the players will be mindful to keep their joints in full working order, to make sure they can take to the pitch in future competitive rounds and, fingers crossed, perhaps even bring the Webb Ellis Cup home with them after competing in the Rugby World Cup final on 2 November.

JK Rowling has frequently talked about the effect of her mother’s death in influencing some of the themes of Harry Potter. But she is now marking her mother’s legacy with a substantial donation to fund research into stem cell therapy for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis.Back in 1990 JK Rowling had the fully formed idea for Harry Potter and she started writing furiously. In December that same year, Rowling’s mother Anne died, aged only 45, having already lived with Multiple Sclerosis for 10 years. She died never knowing about the Harry Potter story and her daughter’s subsequent international success.Following an initial donation from Rowling in 2010 the new centre will be named the University of Edinburgh’s Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic.Rowling said; “None of us could have predicted the incredible progress that would be made in the field of regenerative neurology, with this clinic leading the charge. I am delighted to support the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic into a new phase of discovery and achievement as it realises its ambition to create a legacy of better outcomes for generations of people with MS and non-MS neurodegenerative diseases.”She continues; “It’s a matter of great pride for me that the clinic has combined these lofty ambitions with practical, on the ground support and care for people with MS, regardless of stage and type – I’ve heard at first-hand what a difference this support can make. I am confident that the combination of clinical research and practical support delivered by Professor Siddharthan Chandran and his exemplary team will create a definitive step-change for people with MS and associated conditions.”Rowling’s contribution will also support research projects focusing on invisible disabilities experienced by people living with MS – such as cognitive impairment and pain.The facility is focused on MS and other neurological conditions. Its mission is to bring more clinical studies and trials to patients.Experts at Edinburgh University hope the donation will have a lasting impact on people with the condition and their families. Director of the clinicProfessor Siddharthan Chandran, said; “Our research is shaped by listening to, and involving, individuals who are living with these tough conditions. The Anne Rowling Clinic’s vision is to offer everyone with MS or other neurodegenerative diseases, such as MND, the opportunity to participate in a suite of clinical studies and trials. This incredibly far-sighted and generous donation will unlock the potential of personalised medicine for people with MS in Scotland and further afield.”Located in the Edinburgh Bioquarter around four miles south of Edinburgh city centre the Anne Rowling Clinic is researching treatment of the following conditions; Multiple Sclerosis; Motor Neurone Disease; Early-onset dementia; Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders; Huntington’s disease and Stroke due to brain haemorrhage.The clinic was initially founded with a £10 million donation by Rowling in 2010 and officially opened by HRH the Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh in January 2013.The Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic is actively conducting research and trials, more details of which can be found here.

Husband and father James O’ Brien, aged 44, from Rotherhithe, in London, was in ’the wrong place at the wrong time’ when at the age 18, he and his friends were attacked and sprayed in the face with ammonia in South London.He has gone from near blindness to being able to see everything. Previously he could not even see the standard chart that they use in an Opticians, but now he can read everything. He says; “It’s a massive bonus to be able to see out of both eyes, and to see my children out of my right eye. I’d never seen them at all, out of that eye before.”The attack left him completely blind in his right eye. It was only due to the quick actions of a hero passer-by who threw water in his face, that his left eye was miraculously saved. James recalls the traumatic incident; “I felt like my face was on fire and I thought I was going to die.”Now, a quarter of a century later, and having not been able to see his wife and children clearly, James has become the first ever patient to undergo revolutionary stem cell treatment for the rejuvenation of the eye, courtesy of the NHS.James is married with a six year old daughter and four year old son, and works as a Project Manager. He says; “When I am cycling I can just glance over my shoulder and see what traffic is behind me. With my children we were playing a game around the dining room table and they were holding up fingers and I was telling them how many, with my right eye – they were squealing with delight! This procedure has also given me greater comfort. The surface of my eye was heavily scarred but they have smoothed that out and the eye is much healthier and more comfortable. It is slightly blurred because I still have stitches in but once those come out at the end of this year I should get even better vision.”The pioneering procedure was performed by consultant ophthalmic surgeon Dr Sajjad Ahmad only last year. Accompanied by surgeons at the Moorfield Eye Hospital in London, Ahmad managed to cut away the significant scar tissue from James’ right eye and replace them with lab grown cells derived from his own stem cells.The procedure has taken 18 months in total and combined innovative stem cell rejuvenation from his own healthy eye, and a cornea transplant. Ahmad initially took a tiny biopsy about 1 to 2 mm from James’ healthy eye, and removed the scar tissue from the damaged eye. He then repopulates the tissue of the damaged eye with the stem cell transplant from the healthy eye. At this point doctors gave James a 75% chance of success.After waiting for the highly delicate eye tissue to heal, in June, Ahmad then gave James a cornea from a deceased donor to complete the surgery and completely restore his sight.Up until the final reveal when James’ final bandages were removed no one knew whether the procedure was a success. In wonderful scenes James is pictured having his final dressings removed and seeing through his damaged eye for the first time in 25 years. James was amazed, he said; “being able to see through both eyes after all these years means the world to me.”Dr Ahmad has said that because of James’ bravery to become the first guinea pig, the surgery, which was performed at a total cost of £92,000, would now go on to change the lives of other young people who are suffering in all areas of their lives due to sudden and immediate eye loss.The surgeon says he sees a number of these acid attacks each week at the hospital and statistically the number of recorded acts has increased threefold to more than 500% between 2012 and 2016 with 4 out of 5 of the attacks aimed at men.“This is going to have a huge impact. A lot of patients are young men so it affects not only their work but lives and those around them”.The impact for James and his young family is immediate as he recalls his daughter Edie’s wish in a Chinese lantern for her ‘daddy’s eyes to get better soon’. James will now be able to tell his daughter that her wish has finally come true.As for the future of this amazing treatment, Dr Ahmad hopes to develop it further to restore not only the sight in victims blinded in both eyes but also for patients with complex degenerative eye conditions.NICE, the NHS’s rationing body and NHS England who give the okay to new treatments, have approved this for all eligible patients on the NHS.Who is Dr Sajjad Ahmad?Dr Sajjad Ahmad is a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and honorary surgeon at St Paul’s Eye Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He also acts as an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London and at the Department of Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool.He is a Corneal, cataract and ocular surface disease specialist who studied at Newcastle University Medical School. As well as innovative stem cell treatment his areas of expertise include; Blepharitis; Chalazion; Children’s eye conditions; Corneal abrasion; Corneal graft; Conjunctivitis; Dry eye; Episcleritis; Fuchs’ dystrophy; Keratoconus; Sties; Watering eye; and Cataract surgeryYou can watch James’ story and see his reaction when he looks out of his right eye in BBC Inside Out https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008dkb

One the world’s most pioneering surgeons in the field of stem cell treatment has conducted a successful procedure on Formula One Legend, Michael Schumacher, reports from Paris suggest.Schumacher was brought to the Georges Pompidou hospital in the French capital surrounded by guards and entourage. It is believed that performed a pioneering breakthrough stem cell technique – the exact details of which remain confidential.Schumacher, seven times World Champion driver, sustained serious life altering injuries in a freak skiing accident six years ago.He is cared for by his wife, Christine and a trusted team of nurses and doctors, however, the exact nature of his injuries and current health status are shrouded in secrecy.Much speculation hints that Schumacher has been given either stem cell transfusions of inflammation reducing stem cells as part of his ongoing care for the horrific head injuries that he has sustained.Local news media reported that the Georges Pompidou hospital had ‘turned into a bunker’ during the visit of much-loved Schumacher. The reports of treatment give hope to millions of people seeking a cure for brain injury. No formal statement has been given by the hospital or by Schumacher’s team or family. It has been confirmed by a nurse and by Schumacher’s close friend Jean Todt who visited Schumacher in the hospital.An unnamed Senior Cardiac nurse is reported to have confirmed that Schumacher was in their care, saying; “Yes, he is in my service.” Giving hope to millions of adoring fans the same nurse added, “and I can assure you that he is conscious.”France had very strict medical privacy rules which preclude hospitals from compromising patient security and privacy. A formal confirmation of the likely type of procedure has not been confirmed thought sources seem to suggest that it is innovative stem cell treatment.Simon Checkley, CEO, The Regenerative Clinic says; “It is important to remember that in the UK we are highly regulated on the use of these kinds of therapies. We cannot and do not offer the exact same treatment that Schumacher is reported to have had. However, the basis for this sort of treatment is the inherent healing and rejuvenating properties of activated mesenchymal cells.Early results on more than 40,000 patients worldwide seems to show that these cells have an ability to amplify the body’s natural capacity to remove and repair damage.”“The potential is incredible. We are currently using a different technique called AMPP to harness these cells from your own fat and blood and inject them into problem areas. Where we are seeing the most success to date – (and all of our patient’s outcomes are being added to our own trial record to evidence the effects of this treatment) – is in arthritic joints, or injury or ailment related pain or immobility to joints; i.e. hips, knees, shoulders, toes etc. We inject the activated mesenchymal cells into the problem area using ultrasound and have had some excellent results. It is a day case procedure and there is a high indication that pain is significantly reduced. The treatment also appears to work well with some gynaecological conditions including vaginal atrophy, some side-effects of menopause and lichen sclerosus.”“It is wonderful to hear that Schumacher is doing well, and as medical professionals the improved welfare of our patients is what drives us. We wish him all the best for his continued recovery.”Who is the surgeon behind Michael Schumacher’s stem cell treatment?According to reports, the procedure was carried out by the French Cardiac Surgeon, Professor Phillipe Menasche.The 69 year old surgeon is best known for performing the world’s first ever embryonic cell transplant on a patient with heart failure in 2014. It was reported that Shcumacher was welcomed personally at the hospital by Menasche where he is based.It is hoped that any stem cell methodology carried out by Menasche will continue to work within Schumacher’s body to further aid his recovery. The legendary driver turned 50 this year but has not been seen in public since his freak skiing accident in 2014.Professor Philippe Menasché, MD, Ph.D., Professor of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Paris Descartes and an expert in stem-cell-derived extracellular vesicles for the treatment of heart failure. He has pioneered research and development in this area.Menasché has earned his MD and Ph.D. degrees from the prestigious University of Paris. As a noted Professor of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Paris Descartes, Chief of the Heart Failure Surgery Unit of the Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, and Director of INSERM (National Institute of Health and Medical Research) laboratory that is focused on cell therapy for cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Menasché is one of the most sought after surgeons in the world.Menasché has previously talked about treating the heart with stem cells. In detail he is very clear that his current thinking leads him to believe that the improvement does happen following stem cell treatment, and that the repair comes from the heart itself as it is stimulated by the molecules that are secreted by these transplanted cells during their presence, even if their presence is only for a limited time.His theory and practice is based on the way that he can functionalize biomaterial and use it in such a way that it will release secretome over time in a controlled fashion. ‘Secretome’ denotes all of the complex factors that are secreted by a cell, along with the secretory pathway constituents. Menasché is at the very forefront of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and is running his own clinical trials to evidence the operation of stem cells within the heart.However, it is unclear whether Menasché has performed a procedure on Schumacher’s heart of some other ground breaking treatment.Michael Schumacher’s stem cell treatment – what you need to knowRacing legend Michael Schumacher won the Formula One Championship title seven times and turned 50 years old in January 2019. It was while skiing with his son, Mick (now also an emerging talent in Formula One with Ferrari) that Michael had a freak accident. It took place on 29th December 2013. Schumacher suffered a traumatic brain injury and was placed in a medically induced coma for six months until 16 June 2014. He left the hospital in Grenoble for further rehabilitation at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland near the family home.Schumacher is adored by his fans. He has been honoured many times during his career. In April 2002, for his contribution to sport and in raising awareness of child education, he was named as one of the UNESCO Champions for sport, joining the eight other legends including; Pelé, Sergey Bubka and Justine Henin. He won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award twice, in 2002 and 2004 for his performances in the 2001 and 2003 Formula One seasons respectively. He also received nominations for the 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 awards.In August 1995, Michael married Corinna Betsch. They have two children, a daughter Gina-Marie, born in 1997 and Mick, born in 1999. The family has always been very protective of their private life and are known to dislike the celebrity spotlight. The family moved to a newly-built mansion near Gland, Switzerland in 2007 with a private beach on Lake Geneva.The family is mad about animals with several dogs that they have rescued, and horses which they keep at a ranch in Texas, USA. One of Michael’s main hobbies was horse riding, and he also played football for his local team FC Echichens.In the interceding years since his accident little is known other than his care is provided and overseen by Corinna, with a host of doctors, nurses and professional medical staff. Indeed, his actual diagnosis is shrouded in secrecy and the extent of his injuries and current status is unknown..It is widely believed that the treatment that Michael Schumacher had would have cost easily in excess of £50,000 whereas AMPP therapy on your joint applied in London costs more in the region of £5,000Michael Schumacher remains a ground-breaking individual. His treatment and use of this sort of cutting-edge innovation in his recovery will continue to inspire people and offer hope to millions. Stem cells treatments like this, although revolutionary, are still in their infancy. Much work is still to be done by the pioneering experts involved to document and record the results of this future forward treatment.

The Regenerative Clinic are proud to announce that we have initiated the largest clinical study ever conducted using minimally invasive adipose derived stem cells. With commission and government backing, we have currently raised 400 thousand pounds. There are 80 patients currently recruited with 20 that have completed treatment.It is estimated that 25% of those who are 50 years or over suffer from chronic knee pain in the UK. In Karachi approx. 20% (2 million) of the over 55 population suffer with knee pain. With an ever increasing proportion of people visiting their doctors with knee pain usually diagnosed with osteoarthritis.Currently there is no treatment to stop or reverse the progression of knee arthritis. The available treatments focus on managing the pain and disability. Total knee replacement (TKR) is recommended for patients with moderate to severe pain who do not respond to non-surgical therapy. 15-20% are left worse off following a TKR and regret having the operation. 10-15% of those who have a TKR have dramatic improvement in their symptoms. 70% are improved but continue to have some problems. In the under 55 age group approx. 25% have a poor outcome.If you have TKR before age of 55 you are then 5 times more likely to have a re-do or revision TKR compared to someone who has this operation when they are 75 years or older. We must find better ways of treating knee arthritis in the young. Studies have shown that one third of knee replacement candidates in the UK will not accept the surgery if offered to them and out of those on the waiting list for TKR, 25% ended up not having their joint replaced.Knee replacement surgery hinders ones ability to kneel and sit cross legged, particularly frustrating for Muslim patients as this impedes their ability to pray comfortably.An alternative approach would be to preserve a patient’s own joint. We have 2 methods of achieving this:Activated Mesenchymal Pericyte Plasma injections (AMPP®). This innovative and minimally invasive procedure is a combination of Lipogems® and Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy. Alternatively, Joint Distraction (KJD).AMPP® Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)These therapies have emerged as a potential alternative method of managing patients suffering with osteoarthritis. MSCs have been identified within adipose (fat) tissue and are in abundance in comparison to bone marrow cells. Micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MAT) is produced by mechanically fragmenting adipose tissue and then removing the blood and oils to leave a sample enriched in pericytes which are the precursors to stem cells without enzymatic digestion. This makes the process very simple and applicable in austere environments. The efficacy of this treatment has been proven in animals with many clinical studies demonstrating great outcomes in horses and other mammals. A number of studies using MAT for knee osteoarthritis have demonstrated clinical benefit for up to 3 years after a single injection. The real benefit of this method is that it is performed as a day case procedure with very minor possible complications.Knee Joint Distraction (KJD)The temporary mechanical unloading of the knee joint has been shown to cause the cartilage in the knee to regenerate. This is achieved by surgically placing an apparatus called an external fixator to the leg and pulling the joint apart by a few millimetres. The device is the removed after six weeks. A study performed to compare how well KJD works when compared to TKR found KJD to perform slightly better at 1 year. It also has been shown to restore the patient’s own cartilage. These improvement in the symptoms of arthritis last for up to 9 years in some with over 80% of the patients remained satisfied with sustained clinical benefit. The advantages are that is it much cheaper than TKR, lower risk, patient keeps their own joint and it delays the need for TKR thus reducing life time risk of revision surgery.Click here to read the full article.