Anyone who has suffered ongoing pain, especially related to the neck and spine, knows how hard it can be to get relief without resorting to invasive surgeries or addictive painkillers like morphine and other opioids. Stemcell treatment center At Right Path Pain and Spine Center in Davenport, FL, we offer safer, more modern therapies to reduce your pain, including stem cell therapy.
About Stem Cells
You can think of stem cells as a kind of raw ingredient or base, like dough. Simply mixing water, yeast, and flour together yields a base dough, but there are an infinite number of things that can be done with this base. By adding to or adjusting this base, one can create anything from a cinnamon sweet roll to a macaroni pasta or a pizza crust: all from the same basic formula.
Stem cells are the body’s basic material. Your body has cells of all types: nerve cells, blood cells, liver cells, brain cells, etc. These are as different from one another as uncooked pasta is from a flaky croissant, but they all come from the same base ingredient: stem cells. All our cells are created from stem cells, which have the power to divide and become more stem cells or to differentiate into a more specific cell type.
Stem Cell Therapy
Because stem cells have the power to turn into any type of tissue we need, stem cell therapy can harness the body’s own healing powers to regenerate everything from nerves to ligaments, cartilage to bone. Injuries that previously could not be addressed or that could only be fixed through dangerous and delicate surgeries can now be healed by your own body.
Stem cell therapy is all about guiding the body’s own stem cells to the right place so they can become the needed cells. Once there, they will begin their stem cell regeneration work, relieving pain and producing healing.
FAQ About This Therapy
Why Don’t the Stem Cells Already Do This?
It’s natural to wonder why, if we already have stem cells, they aren’t already busy rejuvenating our damaged tissues. Unfortunately, stem cells don’t always go to the area of injury on their own, especially for adults. The older we get, the less well they work without stimulation.
What Can Be Treated With Stem Cell Therapy?
Our state-of-the-art therapy can be used to treat:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Chronic lung disease
- Injuries and tears to ligaments and muscles
- Bulging discs in the spine
- Lumbar degenerative disc disease
- Osteoarthritis in the major and minor joints
- Degenerative neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis
- Nerve injuries
Where Do the Stem Cells Come From?
In the past, stem cells were a controversial subject. Early stem cell research used cells from human fetuses, and for a long time, researchers believed that only these stem cells retained the ability to differentiate into any other tissue. It was widely assumed that stem cells in adults could no longer do this.
Today, we realize this isn’t the case. At Right Path Pain and Spine Center, we use MSC, or Mesenchymal stem cells, derived from your own body. MSC cells can come from your bone marrow or from adipose tissue.
How Are the Stem Cells Used?
Getting the stem cells is a relatively simple process, and once we have them, we simply concentrate them and then apply them by injection to the areas that need to be treated. This is a same-day treatment that requires no complicated preparation or extensive downtime.
How Do the Stem Cells Work?
MSCs, once injected, start by releasing important proteins and growth factors. These send two key signals to the rest of your cells. First, they signal the cells to reduce inflammation, which works very quickly at reducing pain. Next, they signal to the cells to begin removing injured tissue and rebuilding fresh, healthy tissues at the site.
How Long Does It Take to Work?
It’s important to remember that the results of this therapy aren’t instant. The body needs time to rebuild tissues, and that happens at a different rate for every person. Clinical studies have shown significant improvements as early as three months or as long as two years after treatment. Your results will depend on a couple of key factors:
Age
The older you are, the longer it will typically take for the stem cells to do their work.
Medications
Certain medications can slow the process. We’ll talk with you about your medications at your consultation and help you decide the best treatment path for you.
Physical Activity
Most studies indicate that people who are physically active typically secrete growth factors more rapidly and efficiently than sedentary individuals.
Severity of Condition
As might be expected, the more severe the issue, and the longer it has been an issue, the longer it typically takes to heal.
Am I a Candidate?
There are only a few things that could keep you from being a suitable candidate for this therapy. It’s important to come in for a consultation with us so we can consider your medical history to know the stem cell therapy cost and help you learn more about the best interventions for the fastest and most effective relief.
Don’t Wait for Relief any Longer
If you’re frustrated by pain and a lack of mobility but don’t want to take drugs or undergo surgery, we can help. Visit Right Path Pain and Spine Center in Davenport, FL today to learn more about stem cell therapy and other measures that can help.
