Arthritis is an umbrella term for about 100 diseases that affect the joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects more than 32 million Americans. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions your joints wears away, leaving your bones to rub against each other.
Arthritis commonly affects knee, hip, and shoulder joints. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis. Fortunately, many treatment options can help relieve the symptoms.
One of the most innovative and effective treatments is stem cell therapy. At Texas Orthopaedic Associates, our expert team uses mesenchymal stem cell therapy to treat various musculoskeletal injuries, including arthritis. Here, they explain how stem cell therapy works and how it can help your arthritis.
What is stem cell therapy?
Stem cell therapy is a type of regenerative medicine. Stem cells are found throughout your body. What makes them interesting as a treatment for arthritis is that they can duplicate and replicate different cells in your body. So, for example, in theory, a stem cell could duplicate cartilage cells and help regrow lost cartilage and repair damaged tissue.
You may think stem cell therapy is controversial based on what you’ve read in the news. At Texas Orthopaedic Associates, we use mesenchymal stem cells therapy to treat arthritis and other musculoskeletal issues. These stem cells are not controversial because they don’t come from embryonic stem cells. Instead, they’re harvested from your own body. Usually, they’re removed from your pelvic bone, which contains the highest concentration of stem cells.
Can stem cell therapy help relieve my arthritis symptoms?
Stem cell therapy for arthritis can be used during surgery to promote faster healing and as a stand-alone treatment, where the stem cells are injected near the damaged joint.
If you’re interested in stem cell therapy to help relieve pain and inflammation caused by arthritis, one of our expertly trained physicians will evaluate your medical history and perform a physical exam to determine if you’re a good candidate for stem cell therapy.
Research shows that stem cell therapy can help people of all ages but has better results with younger people with early stages of joint damage. In early-phase clinical trials, mesenchymal stem cells injected into the problematic joint lead to pain reduction and cartilage protection or healing.
If you wonder if stem cell therapy is right for you, call us at Texas Orthopaedic Associates. We have offices throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. You can also click the “request appointment” button on this website.
