Wow what a thread.
I am an academic M.D. and do basic science research as well including with "stem cells", of which there are many types.
No-one is really harvesting "stem cells" from embryos anymore because it is time-consuming, quasi-unethical, and almost always unnecessary now that we know about the different cell lineages etc., so "pro-lifers" aren't involved at all anymore, although I would say that experimenting with embryos is NOT a good thing to begin wtih.
This talk of 5 publishers owning the industry is non-sense, the publishing company has no say in what gets published, the editor does, and he/she is in no way affiliated with Springer etc. I know many editors and publish lots of articles in peer-reviewed journals, it's not a scam or a conspiracy.
To address the actual point: there is not a lot of data but there IS decent data for stem cell therapy in moderate degenerative disease (osteoarthritis) without significant underlying defects ie. fully torn tendons/ligaments etc. Sometimes you need surgery with some screws and steel. Sometimes stem cells can postpone this. The key is finding an honest experienced doctor that can do it in a safe manner.
If it were my shoulder I would: get an MRI, consult a shoulder orthopod, consult a second, do full 6 months PT and shoulder injections, and then finally POSSIBLY think about stem cells but only if no true underlying structural defect exists.