Former Kilkenny star Richie Power hoping stem-cell therapy can fix his knee – The Irish Sun

Power was forced to retire from inter-county hurling with the injury two years ago at the age of 29

RICHIE POWER hopes radical new stem-cell therapy in Croatia can fix his battered knee.

The eight-time All-Ireland medallist with Kilkenny retired in the wake of the 2015 Liam MacCarthy triumph at the age of just 29.

Power had three operations on his left knee that year alone and admits rushing back too soon ultimately ended his career.

The speedy attacker got back to Croke Park in February with AIB All-Ireland intermediate club champions Carrickshock.

But he has not played for them since and his quality of life has suffered with his knee causing him constant pain.

Ex-Kilkenny hurler David Byrne, who works with an American company linked to a hospital in Zagreb, put Power on the stem-cell trail.

Power said: The process is about regenerating cartilage in the left knee.

They take some good cartilage from the right knee, bring it into the lab and more or less clone it.

Then they inject it back into your left knee and you are hoping then that the blood will run to it and regenerate there.

From what I gather, youre not looking at a huge period of time out.

You have two or three months to help it and they bring you back over every three months for a check-up to see if its working.

The big issue is that I dont think theres anyone who has stood over it and said, Yeah, it definitely works, because they are waiting to see five, ten, 15 years down the line as to how it helps.

The feedback has been positive. Its worth a try.

The former Cats star is not looking to revive his county career though even if Kilkenny could do with him.

He is simply looking for a better quality of life and to extend his club career by a few more years.

Power added: If I dont get anything done in Croatia and if I decide to go back playing for another year or two and keep struggling through, then Im probably looking at a knee replacement by the time Im 40.

Im only 31 so its not something I want to face at such a young age.

It is just to try to give me an extra 15 or 20 years with my own knee.

If they can do that then great, it will be well worth it. If not, then I need to make a decision and maybe hang up the boots altogether.

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Former Kilkenny star Richie Power hoping stem-cell therapy can fix his knee - The Irish Sun