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Though great progress has been made in medicine, current evidence-based and palliative treatments are increasingly unable to keep pace with patients’ needs, especially given our aging population. There are few effective ways to treat the root causes of many diseases, injuries and congenital conditions. In many cases, clinicians can only manage patients’ symptoms using medications or devices.
Regenerative medicine is a game-changing area of medicine with the potential to fully heal damaged tissues and organs, offering solutions and hope for people who have conditions that today are beyond repair.
Regenerative medicine itself isn’t new — the first bone marrow and solid-organ transplants were done decades ago. But advances in developmental and cell biology, immunology, and other fields have unlocked new opportunities to refine existing regenerative therapies and develop novel ones.
Regenerative medicine holds the promise of definitive, affordable health care solutions that heal the body from within.
Regeneration involves delivering specific types of cells or cell products to diseased tissues or organs, where they will ultimately restore tissue and organ function. This can be done through cell-based therapy or by using cell products, such as growth factors. Bone marrow transplants are an example.
Stem cells are the repairmen of the body. Most often they are derived from bone marrow and is known as hematopoietic stem cell. Bone marrow is the blood forming organ of the body and is located within the bone in places throughout the body. The physician obtains a small amount of bone marrow which is harvested and the stem cells are then injected into the affected joint.
In less than 15 minutes, 60ml of bone marrow provides: 10ml of concentrated stem cells, 4 billion platelets, 9.2 million hematopoietic stem cells, and 1.1 billion total nucleated cells.
In addition to bone marrow, stem cells can also be derived from adipose (fat) tissue and embryos.
What condition are treated with Stem Cell Therapy?
. Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow
. Back, Neck, and Spine Pain and Injuries
. Arthritic Joints, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
. Rotator Cuff Tear and Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injury
. ACL and Meniscus Injuries
. Biceps, Hamstrings and Calf Muscle Injuries and Pain
. Tendon and Ligament Injuries
. Hip, Knee, Shoulder, Ankle and other Joint Injuries and Pain
. Sarco-illiac Joint Pain
. Bursitis and Tendinitis
. Plantar Fascitis
What are the potential benefits of Stem Cell Therapy?
Patients can see a significant improvement in symptoms including:
. Pain
. Inflammation
This may eliminate the need for aggressive treatment such as long-term medication and surgery.
How does Stem Cell Therapy work?
Stem cells have the ability to develop — through a process called differentiation — into many different types of cells, such as skin cells, brain cells, lung cells and so on. Stem cells are a key component of regenerative medicine, as they open the door to new clinical applications.
Regenerative medicine teams are studying a variety of stem cells, including adult and embryonic stem cells. Also being studied are various types of progenitor cells, such as those found in umbilical cord blood, and bioengineered cells called induced pluripotent stem cells. Each type has unique qualities, with some being more versatile than others.
What is the procedure to derive bone marrow stem cells?
The patient lies on the stomach and he skin over the pelvic bone is cleaned with antiseptic solution.
An antiseptic medication, called lidocaine will then be given for local anesthesia.
With the local area anesthetized, 60ml of bone marrow is drawn and concentrated through centrifuge method. 10ml of bone marrow concentrate is then injected into the affected joint. The needle will be in the hipbone for approximately 15-60 seconds and the entire procedure should take no longer than five minutes. Following the procedure the patient should be able to return to normal daily activities.
Stem cell therapy is an alternative to invasive orthopedic surgery and joint replacement.
How much does it cost?
One of the first questions that many people have is “how much do stem cell joint procedures cost?” Although these procedures are not covered by health insurances, stem cell joint procedures start at very affordable prices, which vary depending on the severity of the medical condition, the number of joints that you would like treated, and whether you would need one or more types of stem cells to achieve the best possible results.
Each patient’s medical requirement is unique. Therefore a consultation with the physician is needed to decide the best treatment option (and total cost) for you.
For more information about Stem Cell Therapy call Healthcare Partners at 352-750-4333 to schedule a consultation today.
