Stem Cell Therapies

Autologous stem cell therapies are cell-based orthopedic treatments that can offer a less invasive, alternative to surgery for individuals suffering from joint pain. They can also be used in cases where surgery is not recommended but you are suffering from chronic pain and lack of function.

Autologous meaning from your own body are found in bone marrow, blood, and adipose tissue. These cells can derive cartilage, bone, muscle, tendon, and ligaments.

Autologous stem cells are harvested and processed using cutting edge technology and under sterile conditions than used as a treatment the same day in office as a minor office procedure.

These cell-based therapies can potentially repair and regenerate the damaged tissues, resulting in relief of pain and improvement in mobility and function. Stem cell therapy should be considered osteoarthritis, ligament/tendon damage, and cartilage injury.

Quick Note Regarding Allogenic Stem Cells

Allogenic stem cells meaning not from your body are derived most often from donated umbilical cord, placenta and/or amniotic stem cells. These are stem cells from a bottle. There is a lot of debate about the efficacy between autologous and umbilical/placenta and/or amniotic read summary below.

An important point regarding the use of umbilical/placenta and/or amniotic stem cells are that there are no live FDA approved or umbilical/placenta and/or amniotic stem cells allowed products available for orthopedic use. If a provider or clinic claims to be using FDA approved live donor stem cells I would ask more questions regarding the FDA guidelines of specifies regulations of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products.

Autologous vs Allogenic Cells

YOUR OWN CELLS ARE BETTER

• Stem cells from elderly donors do not have as much pluripotential as cells from younger donors. Nevertheless, these cells are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into osteoblasts, chondroblasts, adipocytes and other cell lineages
• Despite controversial reports, the general consensus supports that stem cell proliferation rate is lower in the elderly, but their activity is sufficient for growth and self-renewal.
• No risk at all of provoking immune reactions using your own cells.
• No risk of contamination and spreading of communicable disease using your own cells.
• Umbilical cord stem cells or amniotic stem cells in a bottle are not live. If there were live cells they would not be FDA approved products.