Ready to find a pain management solution for your arthritis that doesn’t involve drugs and surgery? This exciting therapy uses the healing power of your own body to repair and regenerate your joints. This therapy is minimally invasive, has a quick recovery time, and the results can be felt for months to years after treatment. It is with pride and confidence that we offer stem cell therapy for arthritis right here at Right Path Pain & Spine Centers in Davenport, FL.
Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis: How Soon Will You See Results?
Stem cell therapy helps your body heal itself by placing stem cells in areas that need healing and letting these stem cells differentiate into the cells the body needs most. Your body needs time to transform stem cells into cartilage cells and other connective tissue cells required for repairing joints. Most people will experience significant improvements around 3 months after treatment. For a smaller percentage of patients, it can take up to 2 years.
Over the course of the year following treatment, patients can expect to see progressive improvement month after month. How soon each person sees results depends on a whole multitude of factors including age, the severity of your condition, genetics, and lifestyle just to name a few. Tissue regeneration is by no means an overnight process. The body needs time to rebuild tissues and since every person’s body is unique, we all build tissues at different rates.
Improve Your Chances of Seeing Results Faster
There are a few things you can do to improve your chances of seeing faster results. Taking part in physical therapy after a stem cell injection can greatly improve effectiveness. Also, rest from extremely strenuous exercise during the months after treatment. You want to focus on healing instead of causing more damage to the area from overuse. It’s best to practice gentle yet consistent movement in the area of treatment to stimulate healing.
Hydration and nutrition are also crucial for healing. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of nutrients for your body to use in the making of new cells. By nourishing your body with healthy foods, you will be giving it the tools it needs to heal. In addition, drink plenty of water. Cells are made up of 70% water so proper hydration is key to forming new cells and maintaining healthy ones. Lastly, be patient and remember healing takes time.
What Is Stem Cell Therapy?
To understand stem cell therapy, we first need to understand stem cells. Stem cells are the raw material that every cell in our body comes from. Upon conception, we are made up entirely of stem cells ready to differentiate into any cell the body needs to grow. These raw cells are essentially blank slates. They can make more of themselves or differentiate into brain cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, and any of the other 200 cell types in the body.
As we age, we have fewer and fewer stem cells available in the body and these stem cells don’t always readily go to areas that need to be healed. Essentially, they get less potent and effective over time. During stem cell therapy, the patient’s own stem cells are extracted, concentrated, and re-inserted into the patient’s body where they are needed most. Stem cell therapy is an exciting field of regenerative medicine with promising results.
Which Stem Cells Are Used for Arthritis?
During stem cell therapy for arthritis, we use Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) which we get from your bone marrow and adipose (fat) tissue. These stem cells can differentiate into bone cells, cartilage cells, muscle cells, and fat cells, among others. These stem cells also reduce inflammation in the joints, successfully managing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).
Why Is Stem Cell Therapy Used for Arthritis?
Arthritis is defined as swelling or inflammation in one or more joints. Arthritis is an umbrella term that describes more than 100 conditions related to the joint and surrounding tissues. Osteoarthritis occurs when a joint is inflamed and painful due to wear and tear of cartilage within the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the synovial membrane which is the protective lining of the joint capsule, damaging the cartilage and bone.
As we age, experience injuries, and do repetitive movements, the cartilage which cushions the joint becomes thinner. By inserting stem cells directly into joints, they can specialize into cartilage-forming cells, effectively regenerating the cushioning within the joint. Stem cells also have the unique ability to modulate immune system function, shutting off pathological responses (as in rheumatoid arthritis) while still being able to fight disease. This is why stem cell therapy is effective for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
How Effective Is Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis?
Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity due to its positive outcomes. Patients report less pain, less inflammation, more mobility, and overall better quality of life. Many patients are able to avoid surgeries and painful injections while limiting prescription drug use after receiving stem cell therapy.
We love seeing our patients become more active after they receive stem cell therapy. They tell us they are able to participate in their hobbies again, play with kids and grandkids, and enjoy life without painful and restricting joints. Of course, results will vary, but the vast majority of patients experience an improvement in their condition in the months following stem cell therapy.
Is It Safe?
Because stem cell therapy utilizes your body’s own cells instead of introducing foreign cells or substances, there is no chance of rejection and therefore is incredibly safe. This treatment is minimally invasive so you won’t have an open wound or stitches to tend to afterward. Due to the insertion of only a needle, there is much less risk for infection than from an incision.
We also carefully screen patients to make sure they are a good fit for this treatment. We wouldn’t offer this treatment to anyone we think it could adversely affect. We also don’t offer this treatment if we think it will be ineffective for you. For those who are candidates, we guide you every step of the way to make sure you properly prepare for the treatment and also know what to do during your recovery phase.
Our Experience Matters
As far as the treatment itself, we closely follow industry standards of proper cell administration techniques. Dr. Porter is highly trained and extremely experienced in interventional pain practices. During his 20 years of practice, he has maintained the highest medical standards while creating satisfaction in his patients year after year. When it comes to arthritis treatments, stem cell therapy is one of the safest options you can find.
What Is the Treatment Like?
Stem cell therapy for arthritis is relatively quick and easy with minimal discomfort. It usually takes 2-4 hours to complete and patients can walk out of their appointment on their own. Most people will be able to return to work and normal activity within a couple of days.
During treatment, stem cells are extracted from the bone marrow of the iliac crest or the adipose tissue of the lower abdomen. Stem cells are then concentrated using specialized equipment that quickly separates stem cells from other cells. With the help of an ultrasound machine, the injection of stem cells into a specific area is very precisely done.
How Long Will the Benefits Last?
You can expect to enjoy the benefits of stem cell therapy for a year or even longer after your treatment. Unlike traditional procedures and prescription drugs, stem cell therapy has virtually no side effects. The recovery time for this treatment is a few days, not a few months as with invasive surgery. Instead of experiencing cumulative side effects from medications, you will experience cumulative healing as time goes on and your body uses stem cells to regenerate and repair itself.
Want Relief From Arthritis Pain? Come In for a Free Consultation!
You don’t need to suffer from arthritis pain for the rest of your life or give up the activities you love. There is another option for you that can have long-lasting and potent effects. Call us today at Right Path Pain & Spine Centers in Davenport, FL to set up your free consultation for stem cell therapy. We can’t wait to help you get back to the active and enjoyable life you deserve!
