Miracle in Medellín: A Stem Cell Solution to Chronic Pain

The City of Eternal Spring greeted my husband and me as we emerged from the darkness of the tunnel leading into Medellín. Though it was fall, the city was in full bloom. Cradled by verdant mountains, and spotted with lush parks and gardens, this urban landscape is incredibly green. I took it as a positive sign for the alternative treatment I was about to undergo.

Soon after we arrived, a concierge led me from my hotel to a modern 18-story clinic. As we passed through the vibrant open-air mall, mountains peeking between buildings, I noticed other patients being led by their concierges. One was even being filmed for a testimonial, I later learned.

We were all heading to the same place: BioXcellerator, a cutting-edge stem cell treatment facility. Like many of these fellow patients, I was seeking better pain-relief options… something my home country couldn’t yet offer.

From Severe Back Pain to Kickboxing

Back in the US, I’d worked as a radiology technologist. I was required to stand wearing heavy lead for two to four hours at a time.

The result: a 10-year struggle with chronic back pain, caused by herniated and bulging discs. Even though I had physicians treating me, the pain finally became unbearable in 2022, when I was performing CPR on a patient.

The standard US treatment for back pain involves regular X-rays, MRIs, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

For acute pain, your physician might prescribe pain relievers and muscle relaxants along with physical therapy. If physical therapy isn’t effective, the next step is often epidural steroid injections.

When the positive effects of these measures dwindled, my doctor suggested a nerve ablation procedure called radiofrequency ablation… which could cause irreversible neurological damage and long-term numbness.

I knew there had to be another solution, one that didn’t involve burning away my nerves or relying on opioid painkillers for the rest of my life.

Then I heard my colleague Randy’s story. Like me, Randy was a healthcare worker who endured severe back pain despite a previous surgery.

In 2019, his quest for relief led him to BioXcellerator, which specializes in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. BioXcellerator is based in Phoenix, Arizona, but its programs operate in Medellín, Colombia due to the US’s regulatory environment.

Stem cells can be harvested from bone marrow, but more frequently they’re taken from the umbilical cords of healthy babies delivered via C-section. In the US, umbilical cords can be donated to science, but the use of embryonic stem cells is still controversial and limited by federal regulation. Countries like Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and Germany don’t have these same regulations.

Randy decided to take the trip to Medellín for umbilical cord stem cells to regenerate his damaged tissues. In Colombia he met with neurosurgeons, who injected the affected lumbar discs. Within 30 minutes, the minimally invasive procedure was done.

The remainder of the week involved different treatments encompassing a hyperbaric chamber, physical therapy, and IV therapy.

Following his back injections, I saw firsthand how he was able to move patients, bend over, and stand at the table without being in constant pain.

It’s been five years since his treatment in Colombia—and now he’s even back to kickboxing.

A Novel Treatment: Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cells aid in healing, reducing inflammation, and regenerating tissues.|©iStock/James Mutter

Last year, I contacted Randy’s patient advocate, Shelle Holland, at BioXcellerator. She explained that they’d added new procedures—from epigenetic testing to cryotherapy—since Randy’s visit.

Although the US is making progress in these procedures, I didn’t want to wait. In Medellín, BioXcellerator delivers tens of millions of stem cells, far more than the thousands provided in the States.

After our initial online consultation, I sent my spinal MRIs to BioXcellerator’s headquarters in Phoenix for review. These images were shared with the physicians in Colombia.

A week later, I held my breath and logged on to a Zoom call with one of the doctors who’d reviewed my MRI. The good news: I was a strong candidate for stem cell treatment.

I came to Medellín seeking pain relief, something the US couldn’t offer.

Insurance wouldn’t cover the expenses, but my custom plan (including accommodation at the Novotel) came to just over $34,000. A similar treatment in the US would cost $500,000-plus, so this was a critical component of my decision-making process.

My treatment plan was a week long, and would include:

• Injections into every cervical, thoracic, and lumbar disc and each facet

• Anti-inflammatory procedures with a hyperbaric chamber (saturating the body with oxygen under high pressure)

• Ozone therapy (the administration of ozone gas into the body, purportedly activating the immune system)

• Cryotherapy (exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for a few minutes, reducing inflammation and pain)

• 95 million stem cells delivered via IV

• A meeting with a nutritionist for epigenetic testing to delve into my body’s nutritional needs

• Physical therapy sessions to assess my range of motion and strength

• A therapeutic massage on my last day in Medellín

Doctors and staff met me as I walked through the doors of BioXcellerator, a facility unlike anything I’d experienced. Every time I left the bathroom, someone was there to spot clean. Used gowns were promptly retrieved so they didn’t accumulate in the hamper. Fingerprints were wiped off door handles, and floors were regularly mopped. The place was spotless by any standard.

On the first day, I met with the team of physicians who would oversee my treatment. They conducted a thorough physical assessment and briefed me on the treatment plan. They even showed me the certificate I would receive upon completing my treatment, detailing the number of stem cells I received and their injection sites.

Each day following, I was handed an itinerary packed with various procedures, along with ample breaks for relaxation and lunch.

Thursday was spinal injection day for all patients. I was second in line. I felt a mix of apprehension and readiness as they wheeled me into the procedure room. I moved onto the table where the medical team would work their magic.

They showed me the syringes of stem cells labeled with my name, the number of cells, and the injection site. After applying sterile soap from my neck to my bottom, they began. I felt a burning sensation in my IV from the sedative, and then I was asleep.

Once thawed, the stem cells had to be used quickly to maintain their viability. The neurologist used fluoroscopy x-ray equipment to guide the cells to the areas needing repair. Twenty minutes later, I was in the recovery room. I returned to the hotel until my cryotherapy session later in the day.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take one of my prescribed pain relief pills in time, leading to severe nausea and intense pain. I went back to the clinic early for pain and anti-nausea meds before cryotherapy. The rest of the day, I felt like I’d been hit by a truck and could barely move. I was scheduled for physical therapy at 7 a.m. the next morning and doubted I could make it.

But when the alarm went off, I felt like a new person, and made it to my two-hour physical therapy session.

By Friday, my final day, I felt wiped out and relieved. The physical therapist instructed me on an exercise regimen and provided me with resources and videos to follow once I was home. Then it was time for my last treatment, the massage.

After that, it was up to the new stem cells to do their job—releasing growth factors my body could use to promote healing.

The Honeymoon Phase

Following my treatment, I experienced the "honeymoon phase," where everything felt significantly better for a few weeks. My severe pain diminished, but my doctors had told me it was common for symptoms to flare up again briefly before improving steadily.

Despite no guarantees with any medical treatment, I felt a little less pain each day. The physicians believed I was a good candidate for stem cells based on their experience, but it was up to my body to heal. Real progress typically unfolds over three to six months, with some noticing positive changes sooner.

I worked out daily, focusing on stretching and core-strengthening exercises. Gradually, activities that used to be painful became more manageable, and my sense of well-being improved. Four months post-injection, the persistent tingling in my arm has subsided, and I can now enjoy nighttime walks without pain. I’ve even been on a jet ski a couple times, marking a significant improvement in my quality of life.

While I remain cautious with movements, it’s clear I’m on a path to recovery.

On one of my first nights of treatment, I enjoyed a complimentary dinner with fellow patients. We exchanged stories of our battles against our common foe: pain. Several were back in Medellín for followup treatments, which were reducing their pain from severe to manageable.

They were aiming for complete relief…and believed that goal was in their grasp.

My own pain reduction has been remarkable, and my experience equally so. Though some in my circle were understandably skeptical, I’m proof that relief is possible if you’re willing to consider alternatives….and look beyond US borders.

What Are Stem Cells?

Stem cells are the body’s natural repair tools, crucial for healing injuries and fighting diseases. These unique cells have the ability to turn into any type of cell the body needs, a process known as differentiation. They also…

• Have strong regenerative abilities, helping to repair and renew tissues

• Fight inflammation effectively, balancing the body’s immune response

• Release growth factors that aid in healing

Sometimes, our bodies might not have enough stem cells to fully repair damage or combat illness. That’s where stem cell therapy comes in.