From osteoarthritis to previous injuries, there are many possible causes of chronic pain. Patients often find temporary relief in treatments such as over the counter or prescription pain medications, but the discomfort may still return. In search of a more permanent solution, researchers are looking to stem cell therapy as a viable option for treating chronic pain.
Stem Cell Therapy for Chronic Pain
Stem cells are the foundation for all cell types. They’re especially powerful during early development, as embryos evolve in the womb. In this phase, stem cells transform into different types of tissue by becoming skin, brain, and other specific types of cells, and multiplying indefinitely.
Adults still have some stem cells within their bodies, located in the bone marrow, fat tissue, and blood. Although their potency isn’t as powerful as it was during early development, they still have regenerative capabilities which can be leveraged for healing. In fact, it’s these cells that take over when you get hurt and your tissue needs to be repaired.
Targeted Treatment
Through advanced medical technology, mesenchymal stem cells can now be retrieved from your own body, isolated, and redelivered to the area where they’re needed most. There are also donated tissues from healthy and thoroughly screened umbilical cords, also known as Wharton’s Jelly, that is another cell source for treatment. They can be administered via injection to areas of compromised tissue, where they combat inflammation, regenerate to repair damage, and recruit other healing agents within the body.
Types of Chronic Pain Treated by Stem Cell Therapy
While stem cell therapy can potentially help address different types of chronic pain, it’s particularly useful for conditions which tend to resist conventional healing methods. For instance, people with joint pain caused by osteoarthritis are often excellent candidates for the treatment. They may want to avoid major joint replacement surgery but have also reached a point where lifestyle modifications and traditional therapies are no longer helping, and stem cell therapy can be a promising alternative.
Other types of chronic pain which may improve with stem cell therapy include:
- Sports and athletic injuries
- Degenerative disc disease
- Nerve damage caused by conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and diabetes
- Musculoskeletal injuries
There are many other potential applications for stem cell therapy as well, so if you think you may be a candidate, please contact us for a complimentary assessment.
This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine for the joints, also known as stem cell therapy for joints! Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions.