How and Why Stem Cell Therapy Works
Stem cell therapy is a revolutionary, non-surgical treatment that can be used for conditions like arthritis, torn rotator cuffs, labral tears, meniscal tears just to name a few. By extracting stem cells from a patient’s own body and injecting them at the site of the injury, we are able to help the body heal itself. This is remarkable considering that all we are really doing is promoting natural healing.
As a medical provider, we are excited about this treatment and our ability to offer patients a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals or surgery.
First, we need to extract the stem cells
Since the stem cells come from a patient’s own body, we numb the area where we will be extracting them and insert a needle into the marrow space, usually in the back of the hip. The needle is hollow and can extract bone marrow that contains the stem cells. Contrary to what you probably think, this procedure is not painful, it is usually described as pressure. After the extraction, the stem cells may be mixed with a concentration of your platelets called Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP, which provide many growth factors to aid the stem cells.
Second, the stem cells are placed into the body
Typically, we return stem cells back into the body through an ultrasound guided injection . By using ultrasound we ensure exact placement of the stem cells into the area of injury to maximize the effectiveness of the procedure.
Third, patients begin to feel better
After this treatment, patients begin to feel better as healing starts to occur or occur at a faster speed. This process usually takes about 6 weeks to notice any significant improvement and may take a few months to fully work
Why stem cells are so effective for promoting healing
Stem cells are precursor cells, meaning they can turn into different types of cells. They can also self replicate and can stay alive for a long period of time. While there are stem cells throughout the body they are not in high concentrations. Stem cell therapy is the process by which we can extract stem cells from areas where they are in higher concentrations, like the bone marrow and fat, and place the stem cells into the injured area. When we place the cells back into the body, the body responds by healing itself. Essentially, this results in an increased blood flow and protein creation.
We find this to be effective for treating patients who have been suffering with chronic injuries that have not responded to conventional treatments. It has also been shown to be very effective for osteoarthritis. They are also studying the use of stem cells for other diseases as well, such as:
- Airway regeneration after an injury
- Engineering human tissue
- Stress reduction
- Neurological disorders
- Colon issues
If you have tried other treatments for your injuries and/or arthritis, or have been told the only other option is surgery, give us a call and see if stem cell therapy can help you feel better and prevent surgery.
Schedule an appointment
Do not live with unnecessary discomfort, pain or mobility restrictions. Visit our office to learn more about this great treatment and the other regenerative treatments we offer.
Stem cell therapy is something that we offer patients who are looking to treat conditions like arthritis, torn rotator cuffs and ACL injuries. By extracting stem cells from a patient’s own body and injecting them at the site of the injury, we are able to help the body heal itself. This is remarkable considering that all we are really doing is promoting natural healing.
As a medical provider, we are excited about this treatment and our ability to offer patients a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals or surgery.
First, we need to extract the stem cells
Since the stem cells come from a patient’s own body, we numb the area where we will be extracting them, make a small incision and insert a metal needle. The needle is hollow and can extract liquid that contains the stem cells. After the extraction, we need to separate the stem cells and proteins, known as cytokines, from the liquid. It is this specific combination of stem cells and cytokines that promote internal healing.
Second, the stem cells are placed into the body
Typically, we return stem cells back into the body through an injection or an IV, depending on the condition that we are treating.
Third, patients begin to feel better
After this treatment, patients begin to feel better as healing starts to occur or occur at a faster speed.
Why stem cells are so effective for promoting healing
The body is full of stem cells that the body is constantly replacing. Throughout a person’s lifetime, stem cells are constantly dividing, receiving repairs and having the body conduct repairs on them. This process is more effective the younger a person is.
However, the mesenchymal stem cells in fat can actually promote healing and regeneration within the body; regardless of age. Stem cell therapy is the process by which we can extract these specific stem cells. When we place the cells back into the body, the body responds by healing itself. Essentially, this results in an increased blood flow and protein creation.
We find this to be effective for treating patients who suffer accident-related injuries such as being hurt while playing soccer, on-the-job or in a car wreck. According to the peer review journal Cell Stem Cell, other physicians and scientists are testing effectiveness for stem cells on numerous conditions including:
- Airway regeneration after an injury
- Engineering human tissue
- Stress reduction
- Neurological disorders
- Colon issues
In other words, the research is ongoing. This is an exciting discovery and one where we will continue to know more as scientists build on recent discoveries to come out with new treatment applications. In the meantime, we encourage anyone who is suffering from pain to contact us and find out if this is an effective treatment for them.
Schedule an appointment
Do not live with unnecessary discomfort, pain or mobility restrictions. Visit our office to discover this new form of natural healing.
