From the onset, stem cell therapies have been controversial, partially because of ethical concerns and partially because of a lack of public education about how stem cell therapy works. But as study after study has shown the promise of using stem cells for pain, therapy for knee damage, MS and other chronic ailments, this controversy has remained a hindrance to furthering research on stem cell treatments. What are the ethics in question? The source of the stem cells. For decades, the stem cells in question were those that were sourced from animal and human embryos. People had the idea that stem cell treatments required the sacrifice of other lives. As a result, clinical use of embryonic stem cells is against the law. But that has never affected the Blatman Health and Wellness Center, because at our clinic, we use stem cell products from (1) umbilical tissue from healthy, live births, willingly donated by the mother, (2) the patient themselves, or (3) biocompatible animal tissue that is not embryonic. Multiple types of undifferentiated stem cells are available – there’s no reason to put ethics in question in order to provide our patients with effective, holistic stem cell therapies.
How Does Stem Cell Therapy Work?
Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine. That means that it works to spur the body’s own healing processes at the affected site. Stem cell injections insert undifferentiated (read: neutral) stem cells into the damaged area. These stem cells then secrete growth factors that restart the body’s healing program at the damaged area. The idea is that the stem cells help the body restore damaged cells and wake up dormant stem cells in the area. In some cases, these stem cell treatments might be combined with platelet-rich-plasma therapy for even further benefit. Once the stem cells are injected, some patients report considerable relief in just a few days. Others need about 5 weeks to tell improvement. For many patients, one of these regenerative medicine treatments is enough, but depending on the severity of the injury or pain, multiple treatments may be required.
Treating Pain with Stem Cells: Does it Work?
While research is limited, the current available evidence on stem cell therapy for pain shows promising results. In one study of regenerative medicine, patients with knee osteoarthritis had an estimated 70% improvement after only 3 treatments of stem cell injections. This is incredible news as conventional treatment for osteoarthritis focuses only the management of pain and not reversing the condition itself. Furthermore, osteoarthritis patients often report significant pain levels that usually worsen over time. Using stem cell therapy for knees on these osteoarthritic patients showed researchers that stem cells for pain as well as tissue repair has implications that far outdo maintenance medications like opioids, which simply lessen pain. There are significant health risks to taking any pharmaceutical painkillers long-term, as well as issues with tolerance and possible addiction. But the way stem cell therapy works, it has extremely low and mild risks to a patient’s health, offers long-term pain relief, and what’s more, a better quality of life because of its healing properties.
Are Stem Cells an Alternative to Dangerous Opioid Drugs?
It’s currently estimated that 26 to 36 million people around the world are abusing prescription opioids. With the risk of addiction leading to the potential use of illegal drugs, the need for an alternative solution is now more important than ever. And, when it comes to nerve pain, opioid drugs usually only provide minimal, temporary relief. Yet, physicians continue to prescribe these harmful drugs to patients suffering from nerve pain and other conditions. As the opioid epidemic in America continues to grow, patients suffering from chronic pain are looking for other solutions to managing pain. Stem cell doctors offer a viable alternative to addictive opiates.
Fortunately, stem cell injections can be a powerful and effective alternative to deadly addictive painkillers. We’ve seen stem cells used to treat pain with promising results at our Cincinnati health and wellness center. As a regenerative medicine doctor, Dr. Blatman uses stem cell injections as an alternative to shoulder surgery, torn tendon treatment, vagina rejuvenation and urinary stress incontinence treatment, therapy for thoracic outlet syndrome, and many more chronic conditions with unmatched success, especially when combined with PRP therapy.
Regenerative Medicine Brings Hope for Sufferers of Chronic Pain
New treatments like stem cell injections and PRP therapy are showing significant promise when it comes to managing pain effectively. Not only have these therapies shown to be effective in reducing pain, they may even have the potential to eliminate the cause of the pain permanently. Though results of stem cell therapy will vary according to the individual, regenerative medicine has potentially therapeutic benefits to reduce pain and improve movement following an injury. Traditional Western medicine (read: pharmaceuticals and surgical intervention) isn’t a patient’s only choice anymore; regenerative therapies can provide exceedingly safe, holistic treatment for chronic pain conditions and acute tissue injuries are becoming more mainstream with every publication of a new successful clinical trial.
Stem Cells Shown to Reduce Inflammation
In multiple studies, stem cells were shown to reduce inflammation – a common factor in conditions involving pain. By reducing bodily inflammation, stem cell injections may have the potential to treat a variety of issues. Inflammation is a main factor in chronic conditions like De Quervain’s syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome. Regenerative medicine like platelet-rich-plasma treatment and stem cell therapy offer alternatives to pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories.
Stem Cells do More than just Help with Pain
Patients often want to have stem cell therapy for pain relief. And while the current clinical evidence regarding regenerative medicine does suggest that stem cells may help ease the pain associated with numerous conditions, they do much more than that. You see, most medical treatments in Western medicine are focused on treating just the symptoms of a condition. For example, patients with diabetes may be prescribed pharmaceuticals or those with arthritis may undergo a knee replacement. Neither of these treatments are focused on the condition. The great thing about using stem cells for pain is that, often, the pain relief is actually a secondary effect of the stem cell treatment, because the stem cells are actually helping the body repair the issue that is causing you pain.
Get Cincinnati Stem Cell Therapy from a Renowned Regenerative Medicine Doctor
Cincinnati stem cell therapy is available at Blatman Health and Wellness Center! Dr. Blatman specializes in holistic, comprehensive treatment of patients with ailments that cause chronic pain. He provides regenerative therapies like stem cell and PRP therapies, and has seen great success in the majority of cases he’s treated. If you need torn tendon treatment, vaginal rejuvenation, carpal tunnel syndrome treatment, or therapy for any chronic ailment that involves inflamed or damaged tissues, call our Cincinnati office today to set up an appointment with Dr. Blatman.