STEM CELL THERAPY
WHAT IS STEM CELL THERAPY?
Stem cell therapy seeks to use the powerful versatility of stem cells to help regenerate the body naturally. Many of the painful injuries that humans sustain are due to cells becoming old and/or damaged. When a cell gets hurt, they may lose the ability to carry out their function and eventually lead to inflammation. For example, when the cells that make up the bones in our back begin to wear down, they often irritate the nerves around them and cause pain. Traditionally, these injuries would have to be treated with invasive procedures like surgery. However, research has shown that therapeutic stem cell injections can help reduce inflammation and lead to repair of previously damaged tissue.
STEP 1: Stem cells are harvested from your own body (typically your hip bone)
STEP 2: A Fluoroscopic x-ray is used to guide the needle into the specific joint. Contrast dye is injected into the joint to confirm placement.
STEP 3: A combination of your own stem cells and platelet rich plasma is delivered into the joint(s) through a thin needle.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF STEM CELL THERAPY
WHERE DO ADULT STEM CELLS COME FROM?
In adults, stem cells are present within a variety of tissues and organs. The most common and richest source comes from your bone marrow, and your hip bone is one of the best and most convenient locations to withdraw bone marrow.
There are several types of “adult stem cells,” and Mesenchymal Stem Cells (“MSCs”) are partially defined by their ability to differentiate into tissues including bone, cartilage, and ligaments. MSCs are tissue-based stem cells that are found throughout all or most vascular tissues. They do not circulate through the blood stream, but instead, they are attached to the outside of blood vessels found mainly within bone marrow. When an injury or trauma occurs, MSCs either mechanically detach or receive chemical signaling from the microenvironment to go off and respond to an injury.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A STEM CELL THERAPY INJECTION
Stem cells use your bodies own regenerative properties to heal damaged tissue. For this reason, pain relief is expected to be seen 2-3 months after the injection. The joint of interest may even continue to improve up to a year after therapy.
WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER AN ADULT STEM CELL THRAPY PROCEDURE?
The reason we feel pain is because our bodies fail to heal itself. As we get older, we produce less and less stem cells, so when trauma or an injury occurs, there just simply aren’t enough stem cells available to do the work as when we were younger, and we start to feel pain. Another reason is there are some areas of injuries that do not have blood vessels close by or lack a sufficient “scaffold” to rebuild and remodel the area, like the knee joint. And some conditions, like those that dealing with degenerated cartilage, cannot overcome the inflammation stage of healing.
By undergoing an adult stem cell procedure, you are taking your stem cells from an area of high concentration, like your hip bone, and transplanting them directly to the site of injury for them to start addressing the microenvironment. Unlike traditional treatments that only address your symptoms, adult stem cell therapy, a minimally-invasive point-of-care procedure, not only has the ability to address your symptoms, but the underlying problems causing your pain. Adult stem cell therapy can help you heal naturally, safely, and in most cases, faster.