Stem Cell Therapy
Harnessing your body’s own healing properties
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
Stem cell therapy, a type of Regenerative Medicine, is a modern outpatient procedure that utilizes the body’s natural healing processes to rebuild damaged tissue, heal injuries more effectively, and eliminate pain. By taking your body’s own stem cells directly from your body’s bone marrow, and then injecting them into the area of your body that is injured or damaged, patients are able to avoid surgery and heal effectively. Stem cells can be extracted from bone, cartilage, or fat cells to stimulate healing in the body. Stem cell treatment targets the underlying source of pain without relying on medication or surgery, leading to increased function and mobility with a shorter recovery time than surgical options.
What Do Stem Cells Treat?
This technique can be used for the relief of most orthopedic conditions and common spinal conditions. While we are one of the only practices in Virginia to use stem cell therapy to heal discs in the spine, our regenerative medicine specialists have pioneered this safe and effective solution for most orthopedic conditions, including stem cell therapy for knees and stem cell therapy for back pain. Most commonly, this treatment is used for:
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Discover the Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy
As a non-operative method that stimulates regeneration and provides pain relief, stem cell therapy can help patients of all ages get back to life in a matter of weeks. By contrast, some surgeries may require months to achieve a full recovery, and alternative treatments like corticosteroids or other medications may have limitations regarding how frequently they can be administered. Regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy for knees, can help your body to rev up its healing engine and avoid some of the side effects typically seen with other medications.
Regenerative medicine like stem cell therapy doesn’t just mask the pain or symptoms a patient is experiencing – it helps heal the root cause of the problem naturally. Understanding what stem cell therapy is and its potential benefits can empower patients to make informed decisions about their health. Additionally, considering the cost of stem cell therapy is crucial for planning and accessing this innovative treatment.
- Improved pain relief and decreased inflammation
- Increased functionality and range of motion in the affected areas
- Shorter recovery time compared to traditional treatment options
- Natural, longer-term treatment solution
- Effective alternative to surgical intervention
- Outpatient procedure with no anesthesia
Am I a Candidate for Stem Cell Therapy?
Recovering from an injury can often feel like a long, winding road back to health. However, for athletes and weekend warriors diagnosed with an injury or condition, the possibility of choosing surgery could also mean extensive recovery time.
Patience and persistence are two crucial factors in creating the best possible recovery outcomes. But there is also another element that can offer a significant advantage without drastic or problematic side effects.
Stem cell therapy is a popular, drug-free treatment, that helps the body accelerate its natural healing process. It can treat various conditions, including sports injuries, wounds, back injuries, and osteoarthritis. Stem cells can be injected into injured or damaged joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, making it a quick and effective treatment option.
At VSI, we regularly use stem cell therapy as a non-operative, regenerative medicine approach because it offers patients low risk and minimal downtime while providing excellent results. Speak with our spine doctors and schedule a stem cell therapy appointment near you today.
Speak with our Spine Specialists About Stem Cell Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cell Therapy
How is stem cell therapy performed?
The human body has multiple sites for stem cells to repair degenerated and injured structures. We have found the hip bone (iliac bone) to be very rich in stem cells and can harvested easily and within minutes. After the stem cells are obtained, minutes later they can be used for treatment in our outpatient state-of-the-art-facility.
Regenerative stem cell injections are performed using image guidance (i.e. ultrasound or fluoroscopy) to ensure accurate placement of the stem cells. Once the affected area is sterilized and numbed with a novocaine-type solution, stem cells are then injected into the damaged area to try and stimulate a healing response; regenerating and strengthening weakened tissue.
Is stem cell therapy painful?
Generally speaking stem cell therapy is not painful; however, the discomfort level depends on the part of the body being treated. During the removal of your bone marrow, we use local anesthesia to make sure that area is numb before the removal. And injections into the joint are of minimal discomfort. There is sometimes a small amount of pain after the procedure; however, this does not last more than a few days and can be minimized with over the counter Tylenol. It is critical to avoid anti-inflammatory medications such as Aleve, Motrin, Celebrex, Naprosyn, and Mobic. These drugs may impede the healing process.
Is stem cell therapy FDA approved?
The stem cell procedures performed at VSI are FDA exempt. The FDA does not regulate the stem cell procedures performed here because we use the patient’s own bone marrow and blood, as opposed to using somebody else’s tissue or bone marrow.
Do you use image guidance during stem cell therapy?
When stem cells are injected into extremities like certain joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, the team at VSI uses ultrasound imaging to ensure optimal placement. If stem cells are being injected into structures of the spine, we use x-ray imaging such as fluoroscopy for precision guidance.
When will I see benefits from the stem cell procedure?
Stem cell injections are designed to heal and strengthen damaged tissue. Because of this, pain relief is seen approximately two to three months after the entire treatment protocol has been completed, and will continue to improve till approximately 1 year.
How can stem cell therapy help me?
If you are experiencing unresolved pain and need a long-term solution without surgery, look no further than stem cell therapy. This modern treatment solution utilizes the body’s natural healing process to rebuild damaged tissue, heal injuries more effectively, and eliminate pain. Stem cell therapy targets the underlying source of pain without relying on medication or surgery, and leads to increased function and mobility with a shorter recovery time than surgical options.
