Nargis Fakhri Opens Up About Injury Recovery with Regenerative Therapies
Bollywood actor Nargis Fakhri, 46, has publicly shared her ongoing health journey, detailing her use of regenerative therapies to heal from injuries sustained over more than a decade. In a recent Instagram post, she expressed that while she is "not 100 per cent fit," she has seen significant improvement through treatments like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections.
Fakhri's Personal Experience with Regenerative Treatments
Fakhri explained that she underwent bone marrow stem cell therapy for her knees approximately two and a half months ago, reporting a 75 per cent improvement. She described the process as involving injections of platelets into various injured areas, including her neck, lower back, hip, hamstring, and both knees. "It was painful, but it didn't last long. I got through it, and I am back at my hotel, feeling much better as everything calms down," she said.
Reflecting on past injuries, Fakhri mentioned tearing her meniscus around 2013, which led to a long recovery period with physiotherapy and strength training. "Doctors told me I had to get surgery. But I am not into the surgery thing. I'm too scared," she admitted, opting instead for non-surgical approaches that took nearly a year to show results.
Medical Insights on Regenerative Therapies
Dr. Gazanfar B. Patel, a senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai, provided expert commentary on these treatments. He noted that regenerative therapies, such as bone marrow-derived cell therapy and PRP injections, aim to stimulate the body's natural healing response. "While individual results vary, patients can report significant pain relief and functional improvement over a few months, especially in carefully chosen cases," Dr. Patel stated.
He elaborated on the procedures: bone marrow aspirate is injected into affected joints to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair, while PRP involves concentrating platelets from the patient's blood to release growth factors that aid healing. Dr. Patel emphasized that these are not instant cures but work gradually over weeks to months, with recovery often feeling faster than natural healing alone.
Considerations and Suitability for Patients
According to Dr. Patel, regenerative therapies can help some patients avoid surgery, particularly those with early-stage degeneration, partial cartilage damage, or sports-related injuries. However, he cautioned that they are not suitable replacements for surgery in cases of advanced arthritis or severe structural damage. "Outcomes depend on age, extent of damage, body weight, activity level, and adherence to physiotherapy. Younger patients and those with early disease typically respond better," he explained.
Fakhri highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to recovery, stating, "You have to have a good diet. You also have to complete the exercise they assign. You have to be consistent with that. So, it takes the combination of all of that, but it really works." She expressed optimism about her progress, hoping to return to full activity soon.
This story underscores the growing role of regenerative medicine in orthopaedics, offering alternatives to traditional surgical methods for certain conditions.
