But Darryl Millis, professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in Knoxville, sees the benefits of stem cell therapy, most notably for dogs that have not been helped by traditional means for relief.
“We’ve done it on severe cases that had already gone through all the basic treatments,” says Millis. About three-quarters of the dogs responded well, showing less signs of pain and being much more active, he says. “It is fairly costly but a lot of people are willing to spend that to have their pets lead a less painful life.”
Might the same therapy be useful for people seeking a less painful life? Possibly – but not for a while, says Guilak. "It seems promising, but it is very preliminary." Before using it in people, he says, doctors would need to better understand how it works and how to maximize results.
