Our Experience with Cellular Performance Institute in Tijuana

My wife has an impressive list of marathon and Ironman finishes. She's strong, fast, and loves pushing herself. For the past few years, she had issues with her hips. Finally, late last year, she sought help from a physical therapist and was then referred to get an MRI. We discovered her hip pain was actually degenerative discs in her lower back. Quickly after discovering this, we learned how much the insurance company has to say in your treatments. The desk jockeys at the insurance company tell the doctor what to do. She was to take three cortisone shots and do PT while in pain for nine months. Only then would they consider a nerve ablation and fusing her lower back. All of this happened so quickly we were taken aback by the solutions presented by American medicine.

In the 90s, my grandmother had several back fusions and they crippled her golden years. I've also known other people with back fusions, and it seems to be a temporary fix that ultimately leads to other issues and more surgeries.

Luckily, a message from the back alleys of the internet about alternative medicine reached us. Joe Rogan and Mel Gibson discussed their amazing success stories from the Bioxcellerator.com in Panama.

This led us to discover Cellular Performance Institute in Tijuana. Their success stories are tremendous and have a star-filled list—football players, action sports stars, MMA fighters, and more. Even a few of my pro skateboarder friends had success stories.

As of now, the use of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for joint regeneration, spinal issues, and wellness treatments are not yet allowed in the U.S. These are not FDA-approved because the FDA classifies them as biological drugs, requiring clinical trials and approval.

CPI has an in-house cellular manufacturing laboratory that allows them to control the quality without the need for outsourcing. The umbilical cords are rigorously tested, and we were told they would not be accepted from donors who had received mRNA vaccines. Their stem cells are developed in low-oxygen environments, making them highly effective in less oxygenated parts of the body like the spine. These cells have high anti-inflammatory properties and can treat a variety of conditions like chronic pain, orthopedic injuries, degenerative diseases, and autoimmune disorders.

We’d heard glowing reviews from big names like Joe Rogan, plus local legends we know—skateboarders Tony Hawk and Andy McDonald—who’d all had amazing success with stem cells there. We also dug into the risks, and honestly, we couldn’t find any real downsides to this kind of procedure. It seemed like the perfect option to try before committing to something more permanent.

We packed our bags and headed to Tijuana, but the day before, my wife and I were definitely feeling the nerves kicking in. Going to Mexico for a back procedure? That’s a big leap. We started at a San Diego hotel near the airport, where we met up with about 30 other people—all in pain, all searching for answers just like us. Connecting with them was a game-changer. Hearing their stories, their research, and all the positive vibes they had about CPI really calmed us down. By the time we crossed the border, that anxious buzz had turned into a quiet confidence.

When we got to Tijuana, we drove straight to the hospital along the beach—such a cool spot. My wife was the one getting the procedure, so once she was settled, I headed back to the hotel, a Hyatt in downtown Tijuana, just minutes from the border. I was pleasantly surprised—it was super nice, with friendly staff and a great restaurant and bar that hooked me up with breakfast every day. I’m a sucker for Mexican food, so I was in heaven. Plus, the food scene around the area? Unreal. Amazing steaks, fresh seafood, and way more affordable than California. I honestly couldn’t believe how good the restaurants were. It put me totally at ease chilling at the hotel while my wife was at CPI. Ok, enough about my vacation.

My wife spent five days at CPI, and it was all about supercharging her body. I'm going to share the details of each IV treatment because they are beneficial and available to everyone.

NAD+
This is an infusion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme that boosts cellular energy production, supports brain function, and promotes overall vitality by enhancing metabolism and repair processes at the cellular level.

Myers cocktail
This is a nutrient-packed IV blend of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and calcium, designed to boost energy, improve hydration, and support immune health and recovery.

Ozone
This involves infusing ozone gas into the bloodstream to increase oxygen levels, which can enhance circulation, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the immune system for improved healing and detoxification.

Apatone
This is a high-dose vitamin C infusion combined with vitamin K3, often used to fight oxidative stress, support immune function, and sometimes as a complementary treatment for conditions like cancer by targeting damaged cells.

Beyond the IVs, she did sessions in a hyperbaric chamber and got electromagnetic pulses to push oxygen deep into her blood—all while chilling with an ocean view. The big moment came on the second-to-last day when they injected stem cells right into her back. Others got theirs in knees, ankles, shoulders—wherever the pain was. She also got a stem cell IV to spread the benefits everywhere.

After 30 days at CPI, my wife was ready to head home, and the recovery phase kicked in. The staff gave us a clear rundown on what to expect—no heavy lifting, plenty of rest, and letting those stem cells do their work. We were back in our routine, but it was all about giving her body time to heal and regenerate. Now that 4 weeks have passed, she’s feeling the process unfold. It’s easy for her to overdo it, and I keep reminding her to lay low. She’s got some pain and pressure, just like they said she would—signs her body’s regenerating. They told us it’s critical for her to stay calm for the next 60 to 90 days, and we’re taking that seriously. Some folks from her cohort are in more pain than she is, which left her wondering if it’s even working for her—they say no pain, no regeneration. But I’m happy to report she’s feeling that pressure they described, and the nerve pain and numbness in her leg? Gone since the injection. She’s been chatting with patients who are 6 and 12 months out, and they’re all raving—feeling great, and working out several times a week.

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