Stem cell therapy for knee pain can offer people the relief from arthritis and other debilitating conditions they need. Knee pain affects millions of people. Considering how much strain you put on your knees daily, it’s a problem if knee pain limits your movement. Knee pain reduces the overall quality of life, and there’s only so much you can do with anti-inflammatory medications. People need a long-term solution, which is where stem cell therapy and research comes in.
The Knee Pain Problem
Over a third of Americans have some form of arthritis. Nearly half of all people over 50 have some form of knee pain. Despite the prevalence of knee pain, there are, unfortunately, few treatment options available. Cortisone injections are one option, but the risk may not be worth it. These injections can cause nerve damage, infection, thin skin, bone thinning, and more. These are not minor risks. Knee replacement surgery can help, but surgery is a big step, and it comes with its own risk.
Given these risks, it’s easy to understand why some people would prefer a simple injection. A stem cell therapy procedure can be a safe and effective middle ground for the right person. So, does stem cell therapy for knees work? What is the cost of stem cell therapy for knees? What is the connection between stem cell therapy and knee pain? Let’s answer those questions – and more.
What Conditions Can Stem Cell Therapy For Knees Help?
Stem cell therapy helps with several conditions, including osteoarthritis, cartilage degeneration, torn meniscus, ACL, MCL, and other acute conditions. Stem cell therapy can reduce recovery times for these acute problems. Stem cell therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and other degenerative diseases can repair damaged tissue and replace lost tissue, reducing the severity of these conditions.
Regenerative therapy for knees is a huge breakthrough. Cartilage doesn’t naturally regenerate, meaning that people are limited to the cartilage they are born with for their whole lives. There is no way to replace cartilage lost over time. At least, there wasn’t until we discovered stem cell therapy.
Stem cells can become any cell in the body, including finite cells like cartilage, to help the body repair and protect itself.
How Does Stem Cell Therapy For Knees Work?
The stem cell therapy procedure is a lot more straightforward than it sounds. Physicians have access to many sources of adult stem cells. It is possible to harvest stem cells from a patient, reducing the reliance on embryonic stem cells. There are no moral reasons to object to stem cell therapy when the stem cells come from healthy adults.
Physicians primarily use mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for stem cell therapy in California. While these stem cells are found mainly in bone marrow, they have been found elsewhere in the body. They appear in muscle and fat as well. Doctors use a local anesthetic to ease discomfort and extract stem cells from the body. The patient won’t feel a thing, even when the procedure is over. Physicians may opt to use mild anesthesia to knock a patient out to extract the stem cells.
Physicians then isolate the mesenchymal stem cells in particular. When they’ve gathered enough of these cells, the physicians use them to create stem cell injections. Doctors insert a needle into the knee and use it to deliver the stem cells as part of stem cell therapy for arthritic knees. The stem cells take over from there. The exact mechanism for how they work isn’t clear, but we know that they offer positive benefits and therapeutic effects for the local tissue at the injection site.
On a basic level, stem cells appear to reduce inflammation, reduce scarring, and improve immune function. Doctors sometimes inject growth factors as well to encourage the body to send blood, nutrients, and oxygen to the area to assist the stem cells.
Stem Cell Therapy Risks
The good news about stem cell therapy in Los Angeles is that the stem cells almost always come from your body. Using self-derived treatments reduces the risks associated with using donor cells. The main risk is rejection, where the donor cells trigger an immune response and are regarded as invaders. Rejection is not an issue with locally-sourced cells.
With that said, there are always risks with treatments involving needles. It is possible the injection site could become infected, but the risk of infection is low. Some people are concerned that stem cell growth could become a tumor, but this is unlikely because these procedures use adult stem cells. Adult stem cells tend to be safer than embryonic ones.
Stem Cell Therapy Costs
How much stem cell treatment costs and how long does stem cell therapy last for knees depend on the clinic in question. Some clinics recommend patients take a course of injections, while others finish the procedure in hours and send patients on their way. Either way, treatments are over quickly and heal quickly, letting patients get back to regular activity quickly.
Stem cell therapy can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000. The cost depends on how many treatments you need and the severity of the condition. Patients who require multiple treatments can get it done cheaper because it is easier to prepare a “batch” of stem cells rather than a small amount.
Take the First Step
If you think that you would benefit from stem cell therapy, then you should consult your doctor or a stem cell therapy clinic. Factors such as your age, general health, and the severity of your condition can determine how effective treatment would be for you. In general, however, regenerative therapy for knees is relatively affordable, safe, and effective. There’s no harm in finding out more about the procedure and if it would be right for you.