Understanding How Stem Cell Therapy Remedies Joint Pain

You can develop joint pain for a variety of reasons, including sprains, tendinitis, and fibromyalgia. But, one of the most common causes is arthritis, a condition that leaves more than one in four adults in extreme joint pain.

Instead of masking joint pain symptoms with medications, our experienced team at Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine in Ramsey, New Jersey, focuses on treating the source of the pain. If you have joint pain, stem cell therapy could help.

Treating pain at the source

Joint pain describes discomfort, soreness, or aches anywhere in your body where two bones come together. Joints have a cushioning layer of cartilage to absorb shock and help the bones move smoothly against each other. They also contain:

• Synovial membranes and fluid to nourish and lubricate joints
• Ligaments that provide support and limit movement
• Tendons that attach muscles to bones
• Fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction

When any of this tissue or cartilage breaks down or becomes inflamed or damaged, you can experience several uncomfortable symptoms, including joint pain and tenderness, swelling and redness, and heat in the area. Some causes of joint pain can also reduce your joint movement.

What sets stem cells apart

Stem cells are found throughout your body, including your blood, fat tissue, and bone marrow. A stem cell can divide, self-renew, and develop into different kinds of cells. That means a stem cell can become any type of tissue needed, from cartilage or bone cells to muscle or brain cells.

The stem cell therapy we give you will depend on the type of stem cells you need for treatment. For example, if we use your fat stem cells, we will collect them from the fat tissue in your midsection. If we use your bone marrow stem cells, we will extract them from your pelvis bone. Once we have your tissue sample, we will separate your stem cells from the other material by spinning it in a centrifuge.

Next, we will inject your harvested stem cells into the damaged or diseased site that is causing you joint pain. Your stem cells will then get to work making new tissue, and as healing takes place, your pain should be reduced or eliminated.

The process of harvesting, concentrating, and injecting stem cells usually takes 30-60 minutes.

What to expect from stem cell therapy for joint pain

Stem cell therapy aims to heal the diseased or damaged site and thus reduce or eliminate the joint pain. Because the goal is to trigger new cell growth, you shouldn’t expect to see results immediately. After getting your injection, we will provide detailed post-procedure instructions to guide you through the recovery process. The first step includes avoiding anti-inflammatory medications and resting the area for at least 1-2 days.

Over the first few weeks, it’s normal to have inflammation in the treatment site as the stem cells trigger the healing process, and your immune system kicks into action. You should continue to avoid anti-inflammatory medications and limit your activity to avoid any additional discomfort.

In the months to come, you’ll start to notice reduced pain and inflammation as well as increased mobility in your joint as new tissue returns to the area. While your body continues healing, we will work closely with you to increase your activity levels safely and strengthen your body without adding additional stress to the area.

To see if stem cell therapy can help relieve your joint pain, book an appointment online or over the phone with Progressive Spine & Sports Medicine today.