A new blood test last week shows my CPK level has dropped from 316 in August to 137! This time I did not exercise at all three days prior to testing. I wanted a "resting" cpk number, and think my higher level in August was due to having exercised less than 48 hours before testing.
My routine remains mostly the same. I exercise 5-6 times a week for 1-2 hours each time. Exercises include stretching, glute exercises, sit ups, arm work and "clam shells" leg exercises. I then ride my exercycle 30-40 minutes at level 5, warming up first at level 4 for about five minutes. I still see my physical therapist once a week, usually to work on upper body strength at this point.
Standing remains a problem, and I recently pulled something in my side near a kidney, making standing a bit painful. My PT thinks we can work on something that will help, so I am looking forward to that later this week.
Overall, I still believe I am seeing improvements. Maybe nothing "earth-shattering" to many, but from where I've been sitting (or falling!) for many years the improvements are significant. My energy is way up; I'm exercising without pain or discomfort for an extended period of time without becoming exhausted; I fall far less often than I did before s/c treatment and I've seen an increase in the mass of my legs.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
25 October, 2009
Three days ago marked my 6 month return from China so I thought I put up some before-and-after walking videos. The first video was taken March 9, 2009 (about two weeks before I left for s/c treatment); the lower video was shot October 24, 2009. The terrain is a bit steeper in the newer video.
I feel good. I'm working out 5-6 days a week for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Lots of stretching, situps, glute work and bicycling. I'm at level 5 (of 8) on the stationary bike for 30-40 minutes, and make sure to make a point of riding the bike every time I exercise. I continue to see my physical therapist once a week. Standing remains a difficulty.
Some people have asked about my upper body strength. That has improved about 10% according to my PT. I really haven't noticed it that much because I have not been concentrating my efforts there. The main focus of my exercise has been lower body - - just trying to keep myself upright and walking. My PT works my arms and shoulders each week, but I do little of that at home. I'll try to start doing a better job of that in the future.
Monday, October 5, 2009
New Baseline
It has been brought to my attention that if I’m going to post "results" concerning my treatment in any way, shape or form, they must be done so under strict and consistent guidelines in order to maintain the integrity of the measurements and any change that may or may not occur.
These same critics also seem to think that people could make their decision to spend thousands of dollars on stem cell treatment based solely on what I have to say on this blog.
First off, this is my blog - albeit open to the public - it is still a personal forum and I will post whatever I wish until some authority pulls it.
Secondly, I state on the front of my blog under my photo that these are MY results, and may not be yours. See Disclaimer....
Thirdly, anyone relying solely on my results who spends their life savings on stem cell treatment has not read this blog very well at all, nor have they done their research or completed their due diligence.
That being said, I do agree that there is a need for accuracy and consistency in my measurements so I have enlisted the help of my physical therapist. He will measure 4 inches up from the top of my knees, make a mark, then measure the circumference of each leg at that mark. For my arms, he will measure a certain distance up from each elbow, make a mark and measure the circumference.
Here are the photographs from his measurements on October 2, 2009. I will consider this my new "official baseline."
4" up from knee
Right Leg - 14.5"
Left Leg 14.0"
So get over yourself people. I have never held myself out to be any sort of doctor or scientific researcher. I’m just trying to give others the benefit of my personal experience - this ain’t no scientific theists!
These same critics also seem to think that people could make their decision to spend thousands of dollars on stem cell treatment based solely on what I have to say on this blog.
First off, this is my blog - albeit open to the public - it is still a personal forum and I will post whatever I wish until some authority pulls it.
Secondly, I state on the front of my blog under my photo that these are MY results, and may not be yours. See Disclaimer....
Thirdly, anyone relying solely on my results who spends their life savings on stem cell treatment has not read this blog very well at all, nor have they done their research or completed their due diligence.
That being said, I do agree that there is a need for accuracy and consistency in my measurements so I have enlisted the help of my physical therapist. He will measure 4 inches up from the top of my knees, make a mark, then measure the circumference of each leg at that mark. For my arms, he will measure a certain distance up from each elbow, make a mark and measure the circumference.
Here are the photographs from his measurements on October 2, 2009. I will consider this my new "official baseline."
4" up from knee
Right Leg - 14.5"
Left Leg 14.0"
So get over yourself people. I have never held myself out to be any sort of doctor or scientific researcher. I’m just trying to give others the benefit of my personal experience - this ain’t no scientific theists!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
5 Month Post-Treatment Update (Sept. 22, 2009)
BIG CHANGES!
Four days after I arrived in China (19 April, '09) I had Jason snap some photos of the quadricep area of my legs (we took other photos as well, but this post is about my legs). Last night I took new photos, just curious whether exercising my brains out for the past five months has done anything. Man, was I surprised! As (hopefully) can be seen by the photos below, I have gained back 3.25" of muscle mass in each leg!
RIGHT LEG - 19 April, 2009
RIGHT LEG - 21, September, 2009
LEFT LEG - 19 April, 2009
LEFT LEG - 21 September, 2009
I believe a lot of this growth is due to my stem cell treatment. The treatment has given me the strength to exercise often and more vigorously, making it possible to use my exercycle nearly everyday for 30-45 minutes at a time.
Overall, I feel I am walking a bit stronger, but still struggle with standing up.
I am really working on strengthening my "core," and have added 80-100 sit ups to my workout routine. I use my large workout table with a long utility strap wrapped around it with a tightening device. Sitting upright on the table, I put the strap over my legs, just behind my knees, and tighten it so my legs don't bend. Then I use a sturdy, foam pillow propped at a 45 degree angle and bend forward and back. Of course, the "glute" work is a big part of the core, so I do those exercises 4-5 times a week. Still see my PT once a week. I'll keep you posted.
Four days after I arrived in China (19 April, '09) I had Jason snap some photos of the quadricep area of my legs (we took other photos as well, but this post is about my legs). Last night I took new photos, just curious whether exercising my brains out for the past five months has done anything. Man, was I surprised! As (hopefully) can be seen by the photos below, I have gained back 3.25" of muscle mass in each leg!
RIGHT LEG - 19 April, 2009
RIGHT LEG - 21, September, 2009
LEFT LEG - 19 April, 2009
LEFT LEG - 21 September, 2009
I believe a lot of this growth is due to my stem cell treatment. The treatment has given me the strength to exercise often and more vigorously, making it possible to use my exercycle nearly everyday for 30-45 minutes at a time.
Overall, I feel I am walking a bit stronger, but still struggle with standing up.
I am really working on strengthening my "core," and have added 80-100 sit ups to my workout routine. I use my large workout table with a long utility strap wrapped around it with a tightening device. Sitting upright on the table, I put the strap over my legs, just behind my knees, and tighten it so my legs don't bend. Then I use a sturdy, foam pillow propped at a 45 degree angle and bend forward and back. Of course, the "glute" work is a big part of the core, so I do those exercises 4-5 times a week. Still see my PT once a week. I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 31 - CK Level On The Rise
Over this past week I had two separate CK tests from two separate labs taken. On August 20 my CK level was 260; On August 27 it was 316. Both of these numbers are a significant rise from the 74 I saw just before leaving China just over four months ago. The Aug. 27 number may be a bit off due to having exercised the day before the test. Still, the numbers are higher than I would like. What's odd, is I have slightly increased my exercycle from level 4 to level 5 (out of 8 levels). For now, I only do about 10 minutes at that level, but the increase is there.
Otherwise, I have noticed no significant changes and have maintained the exercise endurance and walking stability I seemed to have acquired from the China treatment.
Otherwise, I have noticed no significant changes and have maintained the exercise endurance and walking stability I seemed to have acquired from the China treatment.
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 17, 2009 - Nearly 4 Months Post-Treatment
Later this week will mark four months since my return from China, so here's an update:
No major changes. I still have not fallen while walking normally since returning from China. I have had a some falls but all of them are related to having tripped or stepped on something unexpectedly. My last fall was in my home about 10 days ago. I tried like hell to get up on my own for over an hour, but eventually had to ask my girlfriend Laurie, for assistance. However, Laurie recently had to move to a city about 3 hours away to take care of her grandmother. Since I had such a hard time getting up on my own the other day I bought an electric Hoyer lift for those times I expect I will fall and nobody will be around. So standing obviously remains a problem.
I still exercise daily for about an hour and a half. I am unable to strap myself into the Standing Frame, so I am no longer spending a half-hour doing that exercise.
Physical Therapy continues once a week. Last week I learned how to get up from a fall in my home using my coffee table. I had been doing it all wrong and this is why I was unable to get off the floor the other day.
Overall, I'm still not sure whether stem cell treatment has helped. With the exception of not falling while walking, I have not seen any "spectacular" results. I'll need another two months work and test or two before I can say one way or the other.
I'll keep you all posted.
No major changes. I still have not fallen while walking normally since returning from China. I have had a some falls but all of them are related to having tripped or stepped on something unexpectedly. My last fall was in my home about 10 days ago. I tried like hell to get up on my own for over an hour, but eventually had to ask my girlfriend Laurie, for assistance. However, Laurie recently had to move to a city about 3 hours away to take care of her grandmother. Since I had such a hard time getting up on my own the other day I bought an electric Hoyer lift for those times I expect I will fall and nobody will be around. So standing obviously remains a problem.
I still exercise daily for about an hour and a half. I am unable to strap myself into the Standing Frame, so I am no longer spending a half-hour doing that exercise.
Physical Therapy continues once a week. Last week I learned how to get up from a fall in my home using my coffee table. I had been doing it all wrong and this is why I was unable to get off the floor the other day.
Overall, I'm still not sure whether stem cell treatment has helped. With the exception of not falling while walking, I have not seen any "spectacular" results. I'll need another two months work and test or two before I can say one way or the other.
I'll keep you all posted.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
July 14, 2009 - The Vimeo Video
The day before I left Hangzhou, China, the Beike Biotech staff took a patient-experience video of me. I learned just today it was posted on their Stem Cells China News site (http://www.stemcellschina.com/) some two weeks ago.
I recall it was an emotional day when the video was shot. I had just learned the good news that my CK level had dropped from 188 to 74 and, although it was a pleasant experience, I was looking forward to returning home after five weeks in a foreign country. I look terrible in the video, but I really felt great! Thank you all for your continued support.
Here is the link: http://vimeo.com/5369780
I recall it was an emotional day when the video was shot. I had just learned the good news that my CK level had dropped from 188 to 74 and, although it was a pleasant experience, I was looking forward to returning home after five weeks in a foreign country. I look terrible in the video, but I really felt great! Thank you all for your continued support.
Here is the link: http://vimeo.com/5369780
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