If you’re wondering how long does it take for stem cell therapy to work or what is stem cell treatment, you’re in the right spot.
Treatment involving stem cells is part of a branch of medicine known as Regenerative Medicine. When stem cells are injected into damaged tissue, it’s believed that they start a healing process that can regenerate tissue, ligament, tendons, and even skin and hair. While it’s a relatively new treatment, the use of these special cells has grown in popularity over the years as more and more patients report positive results after receiving injections. Some patients have even been able to avoid arthritis surgery on their back, shoulders, knee, and spine.
Stem Cells Aren’t Just from Embryos
If you’re worried about the stem cell controversy – don’t be. Not all stem cells are obtained from unborn embryos. How does stem cell therapy work? As adults, stem cells can be found in our own bodies as well. In fact, when you’re injured, your own stem cells come to the rescue by repairing your body’s tissue or injured joint. But as we age, the quantity and quality of stem cells in our body begin to diminish, resulting in slower recovery and poor healing response.
Fortunately, you have “special” stores of stem cells found in various areas of your body. For example, if you’re experiencing osteoarthritis of the knee, we can harvest stem cells from another area in your body and inject them into your knee cartilage.
The result?
Your cartilage will regenerate over time and you may be able to avoid surgery and even stop taking painkillers!
PRP Injections with Stem Cells
To further increase the potency of a stem cell procedure, your treatment can be combined with what’s called platelet-rich-plasma. After your doctor obtains a stem cell sample from you, blood can be drawn from the vein in your arm and concentrated in a special machine that increases the concentration of growth factors found in your plasma. These growth factors contain numerous healing agents that help spark a healing response in your body. When combined with your stem cells, this regenerative cocktail offers a powerful solution to aging or damaged joints and tissue.
Other Conditions Treated by Stem Cell Therapy
In theory, there is no limit to the types of diseases that can benefit from stem cell therapy. They have been used in bone marrow transplantation, helping people who suffer from blood cancers like leukemia. They can also benefit people suffering from arthritis, retinal diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and tendonitis. They can even help patients who suffer from dementia by renewing and stimulating tissue regeneration in parts of the brain that suffer memory loss.
Stem cell therapy has the potential to be a very beneficial alternative to current treatments for a range of ailments. They use the body’s natural healing ability. Research has just begun, but there have been many exciting discoveries recently. Dr. Blatman has successfully used stem cells to help people with damaged lungs from COPD, emphysema, and atelectasis, baldness, urinary stress incontinence in women, and sexual dysfunction in men and women. Stem cells can also be an effective alternative to shoulder surgery.