It is officially official, I am going in for surgery on my neck. I have had pain in my right elbow, numbness in my right hand, and a horrific loss of strength in my right tricep. To show just how much of a loss of strength, I used to be able to move 70 pounds, several times, with each tricep alone. Now my right tricep has a lot of trouble even moving 30 pounds and will simply not engage at all over 40 pounds. 45 pounds might as well be 500 pounds in as far as I can move the weight, yet I can move 40 pounds 6 full tricep reps.
This has been slowly getting worse since December. I have been seeing a Chiropractor while going through the traditional channels. He managed to fix many little issues I did not know I had, but I feel a lot better in those areas now that they are fixed. If your insurance covers a Chiropractor, I recommend seeing one just for a joint tune up. Well worth the copay.
Two weeks ago I had an MRI and last Friday I finally saw an Orthopedic Surgeon. He showed me what my spine looks like and explained that the only fix for it is surgery. He looked at his calendar and saw he had a cancellation for April 19th. We had been talking and he is a body builder. Not the "get huge and compete" kind, but more of the "look fricken awesome and be healthier" kind - which is my goal. He told me he is supposed to move all his other patients up, filling in the spot, but then he smiled and said "The bodybuilding community is pretty small, we have to stick together. I am giving you the spot, just don't tell my other patients. You need to get back to the gym as soon as you can." And I suddenly had a date for surgery a scant 1.5 weeks away! I accepted the date and started the ball rolling on it.
I then talked to my chiropractor, who I had added to all the testing results so he got a copy of my x-rays and MRI. He said that is the result he expected after seeing the test results and said we would meet one more time before my surgery to go over the rest of my joints and then call it quits for now. I setup a second opinion with another orthopedic group and had that meeting this morning. Interestingly enough, due to HIPPA I actually had to authorize myself as someone allowed to receive my test results or they could not give them to me. I had done so, so I had copies of everything to bring with. The new place told me the same thing the original surgeon said, so that is that, I am headed for the knife.
Here is my expertly drawn picture of what is wrong:
Those two bumps were caused decades ago when I smacked my head VERY hard onto the bottom of the pool. What we do in our youth comes back to haunt us later. They are going to cut out the part of the bone that has those two bumps which is on the C7 vertebrae. In the process, the liquid between C6 and C7 will drain away, so when they replace the bone with one from a bone bank, they are going to make it larger and cause C6 and C7 to fuse together. They said I will not notice the loss of bend there since there is very little bend to start with.
They will cut my throat and go in from the front for this. For 2 weeks afterwards I will not be able to lift more than 5 pounds, and then another 4 weeks of no more than 10 pounds, and then most likely released for "lift as your body tells you it can handle". I am to start light cardio on day one (walking around the neighborhood), but as soon as my neck brace is off (2 weeks) I am to move to moderate cardio level (as my body allows).
So, healing is what you all came in to read about, right? I provided that information so that I could talk about healing peptides and what I am going to be taking to help me heal faster. This is a golden opportunity for me to find out if the healing peptides ACTUALLY do heal. In my next post, I will cover Pal-GHK, one of the peptides I am going to be taking.
PSL has recently started carrying peptides through the Europharmacy Line. I trust EP for all my other needs, and EP is one of the reasons I agreed to become a rep (that and how the reps always treated me, how customer service treated me, etc). I had never heard of Pal-GHK so I decided to do some research. I read through the body building forums about it and was intrigued, so I went to the medical studies for it and was blown away. Here are some snippets:
The aim of this paper is to bring attention to a compound with a long history of safe use in wound healing and antiaging skin care. The human tripeptide GHK was discovered in 1973 as an activity in human albumin that caused old human liver tissue to synthesize proteins like younger tissue. It has high affinity for copper ions and easily forms a copper complex or GHK-Cu. In addition, GHK possesses a plethora of other regenerative and protective actions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties. Recent studies revealed its ability to up- and downregulate a large number of human genes including those that are critical for neuronal development and maintenance.
The human copper-binding tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (GHK) is a compound with a long history of safe use in wound healing and antiaging skin care. Since its discovery in 1973, almost four decades of extensive research have established its diverse beneficial actions in many organs and tissues including nervous tissue, skin, intestine, bone, and blood vessels. The molecule has a high affinity for Cu (II) and forms the chelate GHK-Cu. The GHK copper complex (or GHK-Cu) has been proven to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and wound healing action.
WOW! Been used in the medical community since 1973? What else does the study say?
Inflammation and oxidative damage due to the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines play an important role in the development of AD (Alzheimer's) and other neurodegenerative conditions [41]. In 2001 McCormack et al. established that GHK-Cu decreased proinflammatory cytokine TGF-beta in human fibroblast culture [42]. In 2003 Canapp et al. demonstrated that GHK-Cu improved healing of ischemic wounds and suppresses inflammation by lowering the level of acute-phase inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-beta and TNF-alpha [43].
It might help prevent Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
From wound healing studies, it is known that GHK-Cu helps reestablish blood flow into damaged tissues through a mixture of three actions: angiogenesis (new blood-vessel formation), anticoagulation, and vasodilation. GHK-Cu increases the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor, both of which aid blood vessel formation [45]. In addition GHK-Cu's ability to stimulate synthesis of collagen and elastin is useful in restoring integrity of blood vessel walls.
Helps new blood vessels grow, and strengthens existing ones, which helps wounds heal faster and helps prevent bruising.
Both Sensenbrenner et al. and Lindner et al. found that GHK stimulates the outgrowth of cultured nerves [48, 49]. Ahmed et al. established that nerve stubs placed in a collagen tube impregnated with GHK (used without copper) had an increased production of nerve growth factor and the neurotrophins NT-3 and NT-4 increased migration of cells into collagen tube and sped up the regeneration of nerve fibers. In addition, GHK also increased axon count and proliferation of the Schwann cells compared to the control group [50].
Pal-GHK helps nerves repair themselves and helps new nerves grow in damaged areas.
First evidence that GHK-Cu may regulate an activity of certain genes came from wound healing and skin remodeling studies. By 1983, Pickart had established that GHK-Cu accelerates wound healing and contraction, improves the take of transplanted skin, and also possesses anti-inflammatory actions [53, 54].
Iorio et al. used a repository of transcriptional responses to compounds, the Connectivity Map (cMap) [60], and MANTRA software (http://mantra.tigem.it/) to explore networks of compounds producing similar transcriptional responses. GHK, as one of the compounds studied, increased mRNA production in 268 genes while suppressing 167 [61].
Also, Hong et al. used genome-wide profiling to identify genetic biomarkers (genetic signature) for metastasis-prone colorectal cancer as well as their perturbagens—substances that modulated their expression. GHK suppressed RNA production in 70% of 54 human genes overexpressed in patients with an aggressive metastatic form of colon cancer and was active at a low nontoxic 1 micromolar concentration [62].
Gene mRNA suppression is effectively turning a gene off and increasing the mRNA production effectively makes it better at doing its job. They found Pal-GHK turns off some cancer causing genes while improving the function of skin repair and rejuvenation genes - which drastically helps the body grow new skin.
Epigenetic silencing of certain genes is currently considered the main reason for age-associated increase in tumorogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. It is commonly accepted that human health is at its best until approximately the age of 20–25. It then begins to decline in later years. Recent genetic studies demonstrated accumulation of altered gene products in various tissues starting from the age of 20–25 [64]. In later decades of life, the genes produce less regenerative proteins but more inflammatory and oncogenic genes.
At present, it is not always possible to track gene effects to its protein product; however, we may conclude from all experimental data on GHK-Cu effects that the reversing of gene silencing by GHK has protective and health-promoting benefits.
As we age, the genes that help us heal start to turn off (gene silencing). Pal-GHK not only stops this from happening, but actively restarts these genes!
The human tripeptide GHK has a long history of safe use in wound healing and skin care; it is naturally occurring, nontoxic, and is active at a very low nanomolar concentration. It readily forms complexes with copper, regulating its metabolism and improving its bioavailability. It possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties, improves circulation, supports stem cell functions, and promotes nerve outgrown and synthesis of neurotrophic factors. Recent studies demonstrated its ability to regulate a large number of human genes. At 1 micromolar it was able to suppress 70% of genes overexpressed in metastatic colon cancer. It upregulates p63 and integrins in epidermal stem cells, increases collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and decorin expression. Our studies with the Broad Institute's Connectivity Map revealed its ability to regulate a large number of human genes including those that are involved in nervous system physiology, development, and maintenance.
Topical application of Pal-GHK was tested to see if it grew hair, and it was found to grow hair as well as minoxidil 5% does. No study has been done yet to see if SubQ will also grow hair, but I am going to take pictures and find out. https://www.researchgate.net/publica...ct_Hair_Growth
TL, DR: Pal-GHK is a wonder peptide that has been in use since 1973. It is a great anti-oxidant, helps prevent Alzheimer's and other age related mental problems, helps new blood vessels grow in damaged areas (which helps healing), helps nerves repair themselves and actually helps new nerves to grow, improves the actions of genes that help in healing while suppressing genes that help cause cancer, turns on the healing genes that went silent as we age, and helps skin grown and rejuvenate. It might even help you regrow your hair as if you are taking minoxidil 5%.
I am also going to be running TB500 with the Pal-GHK. My boss' boss at PSL heard about my plight and that I was going to run Pal-GHK for healing. Since TB500 and Pal-GHK both help with healing in very different ways, they work great together. PSL is going to send me a bunch of TB500 to run for free! I have seen PSL do this for people from time to time, but never expected to be the recipient of it myself. Quite nice!
Tomorrow I will write up how TB500 works. I will also put up the dosing amounts and schedule.
OK, took me long enough, right? Well I have a good excuse - I had to stop taking all anti-inflammatories and all pain killers (except Tylenol) for the week before surgery. It has now been several days without them and I am in horrific pain. I am a hairs breath away from being a chronic asshole...
So now that I got that out of the way, onto my write up about the wonderful peptide TB500, which is a form of TB4. TB4 is made by the body in response to inflammation (and for other things). Since it is obvious it has to do with healing in some way, medical science has been very interested in it and creating synthetic versions of it. Since the body does a lot of things, we cannot just blindly say TB4 helps heal you, so studies were done. Lots and lots of them. Here are a few that I found to be good.
Promoting effects of thymosin β4 on granulation tissue and new bone formation after tooth extraction in rats.
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thymosin β4 (TB4) on wound healing after tooth extraction in rats.
STUDY DESIGN:
After extraction of the rats' mandibular first molar teeth, a synthetic partial peptide of TB4 was injected intraperitoneally at the time of extraction and every day thereafter for 6 days. Control subjects for the treatment received identical amounts of phosphate-buffered saline solution in the same manner. Histologic analysis, apoptosis assay, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed.
RESULTS:
The overall data showed that TB4 treatment suppressed apoptosis and inflammation; it accelerated the process of wound healing, including new bone formation.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings demonstrated not only the usefulness of the TB4 partial peptide in wound healing of tooth extraction sockets, but also its potential application for bone regeneration and osteogenesis in bone and bone-related tissues.
This study shows it not only helps in healing wounds, but also helps with bone regeneration! VERY welcome news for someone who is about to have a chunk of bone removed.
Thymosin beta4 is cardioprotective after myocardial infarction.
Abstract
Heart disease is a leading cause of death in newborns and in adults. We have found that the G-actin-sequestering peptide thymosin beta4 promotes myocardial and endothelial cell migration in the embryonic heart and retains this property in postnatal cardiomyocytes. Survival of embryonic and postnatal cardiomyocytes in culture was also enhanced by thymosin beta4. We found that thymosin beta4 formed a functional complex with PINCH and integrin-linked kinase (ILK), resulting in activation of the survival kinase Akt/PKB, which was necessary for thymosin beta4's effects on cardiomyocytes. After coronary artery ligation in mice, thymosin beta4 treatment resulted in upregulation of ILK and Akt activity in the heart, enhanced early myocyte survival, and improved cardiac function. These findings suggest that thymosin beta4 promotes cardiomyocyte and endothelial migration, survival, and repair and may be a novel therapeutic target in the setting of acute myocardial damage.
TB500 is great for repairing heat damage. If you take a maintenance dose of TB500 and have a heart attack (for example) your odds of survival are increased and your recovery time is decrased.
The healing properties of thymosin-beta4 have been described in different types of tissues, such as the skin and cornea, and more recently it has been shown that thymosin-beta4 facilitates cardiac repair after infarction by promoting cell migration and myocyte survival.
Peptide fragment of thymosin β4 increases hippocampal neurogenesis and facilitates spatial memory.
Abstract
Although several studies have suggested the neuroprotective effect of thymosin β4 (TB4), a major actin-sequestering protein, on the central nervous system, little is understood regarding the action of N-acetyl-serylaspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP), a peptide fragment of TB4 on brain function. Here, we examined neurogenesis-stimulative effect of Ac-SDKP. Intrahippocampal infusion of Ac-SDKP facilitated the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus. Ac-SDKP-treated mouse hippocampus showed an increase in β-catenin stability with reduction of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity. Moreover, inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling blocked Ac-SDKP-facilitated neural proliferation. Subchronic intrahippocampal infusion of Ac-SDKP also increased spatial memory. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Ac-SDKP functions as a regulator of neural proliferation and indicate that Ac-SDKP may be a therapeutic candidate for diseases characterized by neuronal loss.
As TB500 breaks down, one of the pieces it breaks into is Ac-SDKP. Ac-SDKP appears to help repair the brain.
Thymosin Beta-4 Suppresses Osteoclastic Differentiation and Inflammatory Responses in Human Periodontal Ligament Cells.
CONCLUSION:
In conclusion, this study demonstrated, for the first time, that Tβ4 was down-regulated in ROS-stimulated PDLCs as well as Tβ4 activation exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and anti-osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Thus, Tβ4 activation might be a therapeutic target for inflammatory osteolytic disease, such as periodontitis.
TB500 reduces inflammation and promotes cell migration (bad cell removal, good cell replacement).
Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is known to induce hair growth and hair follicle (HF) development; however, its mechanism of action is unknown.
Tβ4 appears to regulate P38/ERK/AKT signaling via its effect on VEGF expression, with a resultant effect on the speed of hair growth, the pattern of HFs and the number of hair shafts.
Makes you not only grow thicker hair faster, but will actually create NEW hair follicles....which means MORE hair.
Therapeutic Benefit of Extended Thymosin β4 Treatment Is Independent of Blood Glucose Level in Mice with Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.
Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy is a chronic complication of diabetes mellitus...Tβ4 treatment did not significantly alter blood glucose levels. Treatment with Tβ4 significantly increased intraepidermal nerve fiber density. Furthermore, Tβ4 counteracted the diabetes-induced axon diameter and myelin thickness reductions and the g-ratio increase in sciatic nerve...Our data demonstrate that extended Tβ4 treatment ameliorates diabetic-induced axonal degeneration and demyelination, which likely contribute to therapeutic effect of Tβ4 on diabetic neuropathy.
Apparently, nerve damage is something diabetics have to worry about. TB500 not only stops this from happening, but actively reverses the damage done to the sheaths around the nerves.
What dose and protocol are you going to research the pal-ghk
Perfect question! One that I am now ready to answer (after doing a lot of research).
Pal-GHK has a very short half-life, so it should be injected 2 or 3 times a day for maximum results. Even one shot a day will help, but I am going to do 3 to get maximum benefits. It is recommended to do 200-300mcg in each injection. I am going on the high end of the recommendation and doing 333mcg simply because it made the math easy when I preloaded a bunch of slins today. Each bottle of Pal-GHK is 10mg, and each day I will be doing 3 shots of 333mcg, which means 1mg total a day. Therefor each bottle will last 10 days. I have 10 bottles...so I have 100 days worth. There is no recommended maintenance dose to take, and I suspect it would not be helpful to take Pal-GHK all the time, due to its very short half-life. It is a "use it when you need it" peptide.
TB500 does not have a short half-life, so only 3 shots a week are needed, with each shot being 2mg. Each bottle is 2mg, so that makes 3 bottles a week for a total of 4 weeks, so 12 bottles total. It is recommended to take a maintenance dose of 1 or 2 shots a month of 2mg each after the blast of TB500 is done. I plan on doing that if I can afford it.
I am also taking 2IUs a day of Eurotropin HGH. I dropped it down from 4IUs a day to make sure I do not have any false carpal tunnel symptoms from the HGH.
I am really hoping the synergistic effects of these three wonderful items will drastically shorten my recovery time.
So in short, the dosing is:
Pal-GHK: 3 shots a day of 333mcg each for as long as desired. TB500: 3 shots a week of 2mg each for 4 weeks, then a maintenance dose of 2 shots a month of 2mg each. HGH: 2IU a day, forever (or at least 8 months to get the full benefits of it - go as long as money will allow).
I've been following similar logs, one with TB500 and BPC157. The loggers report good results. I'm curious to see if you notice any hair regrowth. Thanks for the log.
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Originally Posted by Livelaughlift
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