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Stem cell therapy for neuropathy.

Clinics inject cells into the legs or give them by drip for diabetic and other nerve damage. The only placebo-controlled trial found no change in nerves or symptoms, and the positive figures come from studies with no comparison group.[1][2]

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Written by Eli McGarvie.

Clinics that treat neuropathy.

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All 2 clinics
ClinicConditionsTreatmentsPrice from
Clínica Ruiz / HSCT MéxicoPuebla, Mexico NeuropathyMSDiabetes Not disclosed Dream Body ClinicBucerías, Mexico NeuropathyKneeHipShoulder MesenchymalUmbilical cordIVInjections USD 1,750

What to expect

The procedure

In the trials, cells were injected into the leg muscles.[2] Clinics also sell drips, and patients describe stem cells sold inside a bundle with light therapy, nerve stimulation and supplements.[3] Nobody in our review was kept overnight.[3]

How many sessions

The two largest studies gave one injection session; the placebo-controlled trial gave three, 28 days apart.[4][5][1]

When it works, and how long it lasts

Where patients reported a benefit, it usually wore off within months to a year, and they went back for more.[3] One clinic study reported benefit lasting three years, but with no comparison group that cannot be credited to the cells.[4]

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

In the one study that looked, people who did not respond were older and had had diabetes longer.[5] Patients advise finding and treating the cause of the nerve damage first.[3]

Risks

Pain and swelling where the needle went in, for a few days, in about one in ten patients.[4] Fever is about twice as likely after a drip.[6] In 2018, contaminated donor cord products caused blood and joint infections in 12 US patients.[7]

The only placebo-controlled trial found no change

Does it work? Not on current evidence. The positive figures clinics quote come mostly from studies with no comparison group, and the one trial that used a placebo found nothing.

No changein nerve fibre density or any symptom score at six monthsPlacebo-controlled trial, 26 people[1]
5 of 7studies behind the pooled nerve-speed gain had no comparison groupPooled review, 2024[2]
Nonecontrolled human trials for chemotherapy-related, small-fibre or unexplained neuropathyReview of published trials[8]
8 of 21patients treated privately for non-diabetic nerve damage who reported online described a clear improvement. 6 saw no change.Our review of patient accounts on Reddit and forums[3]

Where it is allowed

United States. No cell product is approved for any neuropathy.[9] The FDA has warned a company whose marketing claimed its cord products eased neuropathy pain.[10]

Malaysia. Donor and lab-grown cells, including every cord product used in neuropathy studies, must be registered first.[11]

Mexico. COFEPRIS has said stem cell treatments lack authorisation.[12]

Specialists. The American Diabetes Association's neuropathy statement and the American Academy of Neurology's guideline do not include cell therapy.[13][14]

Common questions

Will it regrow my nerves?

Not in people so far. Nerve fibre density did not change in the one placebo-controlled trial that measured it.[1]

Does it help chemotherapy-induced neuropathy?

No human trial exists.[8]

Should I stop my current medicines?

No trial tested cells as a replacement for nerve pain medicines, and none reported people using less medication.[14][2]

Questions to ask a clinic

  1. Do I need a nerve conduction test or skin biopsy before and after?
  2. Where will the cells go: into the leg, or a drip?
  3. Which cells, and can I see the certificate for my batch?
  4. What else is in the package, and what is each part for?
  5. What should I keep taking for pain in the meantime?
  6. Who follows me up, and how?

Sources

14 references
  1. Gibbons CH, et al. Phase 2a randomized controlled study investigating the safety and efficacy of PDA-002 in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System, 2021. Link
  2. Alizadeh SD, et al. Human studies of the efficacy and safety of stem cells in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2024. Link
  3. StemFinder review of first-hand patient accounts on Reddit and patient forums, 2026. Method
  4. Mao H, et al. Efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation therapy in patients with refractory diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Chinese Medical Journal, 2019. Link
  5. Wei W, et al. Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Transplantation Therapy Improved Symptoms in Patients with Refractory Diabetic Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy via the Mechanisms of Paracrine and Immunomodulation: A Controlled Study. Cell Transplantation, 2020. Link
  6. Hum C, et al. Safety of intravascular administration of umbilical-cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 2026. Link
  7. Perkins KM, et al. Notes from the Field: Infections After Receipt of Bacterially Contaminated Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Stem Cell Products for Other Than Hematopoietic or Immunologic Reconstitution - United States, 2018. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2018. Link
  8. Al-Massri KF, et al. Mesenchymal stem cells in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A new challenging approach that requires further investigations. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2020. Link
  9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Approved Cellular and Gene Therapy Products. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, 2026. Link
  10. US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Warning Letter: R3 Medical Companies (Bello Bio, LLC and Regen Suppliers, LLC), 726330, 08/14/2026. 2026. Link
  11. National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Guidance Document and Guidelines for Registration of Cell and Gene Therapy Products (CGTPs) in Malaysia, Second Edition (September 2025). 2025. Link
  12. Comisión Federal para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (COFEPRIS). La COFEPRIS suspendió clínica del D.F. que ofrecía tratamientos con Células Madre sin aval científico. Gobierno de México, COFEPRIS (press release), 2015. Link
  13. Pop-Busui R, et al. Diabetic Neuropathy: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care, 2017. Link
  14. Price R, et al. Oral and Topical Treatment of Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy: Practice Guideline Update Summary: Report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology, 2022. Link

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